- For music notation software, see Scorewriter. A composer
(Latin com+ponere, literally "one who puts together") is a
person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral
tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct
manipulation of sonic material through electronic media. 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 mus