In
classical music,
musical development is a process by which a musical
idea is communicated in the course of a
composition. It refers to the
transformation and
restatement of initial material, and is often contrasted with musical
variation, which is a slightly different means to the same end.
Development is carried out upon portions of material treated in many
different presentations and combinations at a time, while
variation depends upon
one type of presentation at a time.