musical compositions

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'musical compositions' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to pieces of music that have been created by a particular composer or group of composers. For example, "Mozart's musical compositions have endured centuries of enjoyment".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Music for World of Awe" contains seven musical compositions, a collaboration with the composer Yoav Gal.

The New York Times - Arts

If musical compositions are the objects around which knowledge of music is built, to convey music in general requires an acoustic source.

Brain

The automaton plays musical compositions by Christoph Willibald Gluck, who had been her music teacher during her childhood in Vienna.

The New York Times - Arts

Maria Mannone, a PhD candidate in music at the University of Minnesota, has also been transforming images into musical compositions.

Vice

In a series of neuropsychological experiments, we investigated associative knowledge of musical compositions (musical objects), musical emotions, musical instruments (musical sources) and music notation (musical symbols).

Brain

They can also create musical compositions with a scan and play mode that turns Root into a music maker.

TechCrunch

Altogether, Bowles created 150 original musical compositions.

The Guardian - Books

Duchamp created a number of musical compositions, many purely conceptual.

The Guardian - Music

During the renovations, archives of Baroque musical compositions were recovered.

The New York Times

The new season presents the same operas and musical compositions it did in the old season.

The New York Times

Miss Dixon's repertoire now includes 500 musical compositions & 50 American bird calls.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing a specific set of works, use "musical compositions" to clearly indicate formally created pieces of music, distinguishing them from improvisations or sound effects.

Common error

Avoid using "musical compositions" in very casual settings where simpler terms like "songs" or "tunes" would be more appropriate. Overly formal language can sound stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "musical compositions" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts, often referring to specific works or the act of creating music.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "musical compositions" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase to refer to structured pieces of music. As confirmed by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While synonyms like "musical works" or "musical pieces" can be used, "musical compositions" often implies a higher degree of structure and intentional creation. When you are not writing a technical or informative article, consider using other alternatives such as "songs" or "tunes". Therefore, using "musical compositions" appropriately involves considering the context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

musical works

Replaces "compositions" with "works", emphasizing the product of musical creation.

musical pieces

Substitutes "compositions" with "pieces", focusing on individual instances of music.

original scores

Highlights the originality and written form of the music.

musical creations

Replaces "compositions" with "creations", underscoring the act of artistic invention.

sonic arrangements

Focuses on the structured organization of sound.

melodic structures

Emphasizes the arrangement of melodies within the music.

harmonic inventions

Highlights the innovative use of harmonies.

audio productions

Broadens the scope to include the production aspect of the music.

instrumental arrangements

Highlights music arranged for instruments.

symphonic works

Implies large-scale orchestral compositions.

FAQs

How can I use "musical compositions" in a sentence?

"Musical compositions" refers to structured pieces of music. For example, "The concert featured several new "musical compositions" by contemporary artists".

What is a simpler alternative to "musical compositions"?

Depending on the context, you could use terms like "songs", "pieces", or "tunes" as alternatives to "musical compositions".

Are "musical compositions" and "musical pieces" interchangeable?

While similar, "musical compositions" implies a more structured and intentional creation than "musical pieces". The best choice depends on the specific context.

What are some examples of famous musical compositions?

Examples include Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5", Mozart's "Requiem", and Debussy's "Clair de Lune". These are all recognized as significant "musical compositions".