This study investigated the possibility that musical c:ompolCl'l c:u reliably conveydistinctand dcrmableemotionalquslitiesthroughpitch, temponl and loudness informationcontainedin a musical score. Five muaic:alw ere providedwith a list of six terms relating to emotionalstates. ThetermI were:joy, sorrow,excitement,dullness,angerand peace. Eacbc:ompoeer wu asked to compose short melodies embodying the emotional qualities described by the six terms. Fourteenlistenerswere played the melocUa. and were asked to providejudgmentsrelatingto their emotional quslity. Melocliel were judged to embody the emotional quslity intended to be conveyed. Unintended emotional quslitics were judged to be present in melodies in varying degrees. The notion that emotional qualities c:u be effectively conveyed throughmusic is discussed.