What does "melodic contour" describe?

Melodic contour refers to the overall shape or direction of a melody as it moves up and down in pitch. It captures the way in which the melody ascends, descends, or stays at the same level, providing a visual representation of the melodic line when plotted on a staff or graph. Understanding melodic contour is crucial for musicians and composers as it affects the expressive quality of a piece and helps in analyzing how a melody interacts with other musical elements. This concept is distinct from the specific style or performance of music, the rhythm, or the harmonies that accompany the melody, making it a focused term specifically about pitch relationships in music.