What's a composer?

Question

Is a composer the person who writes the music in a musical or the person who writes the words that are sung in music?

Answer 1

Generally in a musical the “composer” writes the music and the lyrics (words) are written by a “lyricist”. However, the term “composer” could be used to describe anyone who contributes to writing a song - words or lyrics.

In a more general sense, a “composer” could write the music, the lyrics or both.

A composer, lyricist and librettist, in different contexts, might all write lyrics.

Answer 2

 curtisports2 is wrong.  A composer can write anything; music, poetry.  A lyricist is just a composer that doesn't compose the music.

Kathy knows.

Answer 3

A composer composes the music. A lyricist write the words.

Charles, the question was specific to the musical, not composers in general.

Answer 4

The words to the music are written by the librettist.

Answer 5

The composer creates the tune, the melody.  The lyricist writes the words the singer sings.

Answer 6

They can be both of them.