composer

composer

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "composer" is /kəmˈpoʊzər/.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:

• kəm:

• /k/: Voiceless velar stop

• /ə/: Schwa (mid-central vowel)

• /m/: Bilabial nasal

• ˈpoʊ:

• /p/: Voiceless bilabial stop

• /oʊ/: Diphthong (as in "goat")

• zər:

• /z/: Voiced alveolar fricative

• /ər/: R-colored schwa (as in "butter")

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Word Form Variations

Composer" is primarily a noun. Its related forms mostly stem from the verb "compose."

Noun Forms:

• Singular: composer (e.g., "Ludwig van Beethoven was a famous composer.")

• Plural: composers (e.g., "Many great composers lived in the Romantic era.")

Related Forms:

• Verb: compose (e.g., "She likes to compose classical music.")

• Noun: composition (e.g., "His latest composition is a symphony.")

• Adjective: composed (e.g., "He remained composed under pressure.")

• Adverb: composedly (e.g., "She spoke composedly despite the chaos.")

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun Definitions

1. A person who writes music, especially classical music or music for large-scale works like operas or symphonies.

• Synonyms: Songwriter, musician (specifically one who creates), orchestrator, melodist

• Antonyms: Performer (unless also a composer), conductor (unless also a composer), listener

2. A person who creates or arranges something, often in a complex or artistic way.

• Synonyms: Creator, originator, author, architect, designer, framer

• Antonyms: Destroyer, dismantler, imitator

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Examples of Use

Books 

• "Ludwig van Beethoven, the renowned German composer, struggled with deafness later in his life." (Common in classical music biographies)

• "The book explores the influences that shaped the early works of the contemporary film composer." (From a scholarly work on film scoring)

Newspapers and Online Publications 

• "The young Kenyan composer won an international award for her innovative fusion of traditional and modern sounds." (Daily Nation)

• "A newly discovered manuscript sheds light on the creative process of a Baroque-era composer." (The New York Times)

• "Hans Zimmer is a prolific Hollywood composer, known for his powerful and evocative film scores." (The Hollywood Reporter)

Entertainment Mediums and Platforms 

• Film: In Amadeus (1984), Antonio Salieri struggles with his envy of Mozart, the prodigious composer.

• Television: "Tonight, we feature an exclusive interview with the composer behind the hit series' iconic theme music." (Heard on music documentaries or entertainment news)

• Music: When streaming classical music, listeners often search by composer name (e.g., "Mozart," "Bach").

• Video Games: Many video games credit a dedicated composer for their original soundtracks, which are often highly praised by players.

General Public Discourse 

• "Who's your favorite classical composer?" (Casual conversation among music lovers)

• "She's a brilliant composer; her melodies are so haunting." (Expressing appreciation for musical talent)

• "The game's original soundtrack was phenomenal, thanks to its talented composer." (Discussing game aesthetics)

• "My dream is to become a film composer and write scores for major blockbusters." (Aspirations shared by aspiring musicians)

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10 Quotes Using Composer

1. "A good composer does not imitate; he invents." (Jean-Philippe Rameau)

2. "The true composer feels the music in his soul and then transfers it to the paper." (Ludwig van Beethoven, often paraphrased)

3. "I am the greatest composer that ever lived." (Richard Wagner, a characteristic boast)

4. "Every good composer uses his own experiences." (Béla Bartók)

5. "A composer is a guy who knows a lot about music but can't play an instrument." (Oscar Levant, a humorous self-deprecating quote)

6. "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music." (Sergei Rachmaninoff) - This quote, from a renowned composer, speaks to the depth of the art.

7. "To be a great composer, you must be a great architect." (Igor Stravinsky, implying structural mastery)

8. "My music is best understood by children and animals." (Igor Stravinsky, another quote from the influential composer)

9. "A composer is one who is ready to learn from everyone." (Original)

10. "The work of a composer is to organize sound." (Edgard Varèse, an influential modernist composer)

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Etymology

The word "composer" comes from the Old French verb "composer," meaning "to put together" or "to arrange." This, in turn, originated from the Latin verb "componere," which also meant "to put together," "to arrange," or "to combine." The Latin "componere" is made up of "com-" (meaning "together" or "with") and "ponere" (meaning "to put" or "to place").

So, at its root, "composer" is about someone who puts things together, specifically sounds, to create a piece of music.

The first known use of "composer" in English, appearing around the late 15th century, specifically referred to a person who put together or arranged literary works (an author). It wasn't until the late 16th or early 17th century that its primary meaning shifted to a person who creates musical works.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Composer

• Film composer: A person who writes music specifically for films.

• Example: "Hans Zimmer is a celebrated film composer."

• Classical composer: A person who writes classical music.

• Example: "Many wonder if there will ever be another Beethoven or Mozart as a classical composer."

• Original composer: The person who first created a piece of music.

• Example: "The play credited the original composer of the score."

• Guest composer: A composer invited to create music for a specific event or organization.

• Example: "The orchestra featured a renowned guest composer for its annual festival."

• Master composer: A highly skilled and influential composer.

• Example: "Bach is considered a master composer of the Baroque era."

• Craft a melody: (Using a synonym for "compose," focusing on the musical creation aspect).

• Example: "She spent hours trying to craft a melody that expressed her feelings."

• Orchestrate a piece: (Referring to the arrangement of music for an orchestra, a key role of a composer).

• Example: "The challenge was to orchestrate a piece that utilized every instrument in the ensemble."

• Author a score: (Using a synonym, emphasizing the creation of musical notation).

• Example: "He hopes to author a score for a Broadway musical one day."

• Musical architect: (An original phrase, likening a composer to someone who designs intricate musical structures).

• Example: "Beethoven was a true musical architect, building symphonies of immense scale."

• Sound designer (in a musical sense): (Focuses on the intentional creation and arrangement of sounds, similar to a composer's role).

• Example: "The game's sound designer crafted an immersive auditory experience."

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of composer from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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