melodiae

Melody, in music, is a sequence of musical tones perceived as a single, coherent line. It's often the most recognizable and expressive part of a composition, created by pitches arranged in a rhythmically ordered succession.1

Melody is ancient, predating harmony. It was highly developed in medieval plainchant, troubadour songs, and in Indian and Arab music's ragas and maqāmāt. In Western music, melody was historically seen as the surface of underlying chords.1

Key characteristics of a melodic line include its contour (the rise and fall of pitches), range (the span of pitches), and scale (the system of tones used). Composers use themes, motives, sequences, and ornaments to create and embellish melodies. The French mélodie is a specific genre of accompanied art song that emerged in the 19th century.12