A
composer (Latin
com+
ponere, literally "one who puts together") is a person who creates
music, usually by
musical notation, for
interpretation and
performance. The level of distinction between composers and other
musicians varies, which affects issues such as
copyright and the deference given to individual interpretations of a particular piece of music. In the development of
European music, the function of composing music initially did not have much greater importance than that of performing it.
The preservation of individual compositions did not receive enormous attention and musicians generally had no qualms about modifying compositions for performance. Over time, however, the written notation of the composer came to be treated as strict instructions from which performers should not deviate without good practical or artistic reason. Performers do, however, play the music and interpret it in a way that is all their own. In fact, in the
concerto form, the soloist would often compose and perform a
cadenza as a way to express their individual interpretation of the piece.
The term "composer" is often used to refer to composers of
instrumental music, such as those found in
classical,
jazz or other forms of
art and
traditional music. In
popular and
folk music, the composer is usually called a
songwriter, since the music generally takes the form of a
song.
See also
