What is meant by "transcription" in music?

Transcription in music refers specifically to the process of notating music that one hears or records, capturing the performance in written form. This involves listening to a piece of music and accurately converting the sounds—melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and other elements—into musical notation. Through transcription, musicians can analyze and learn from existing works, thereby deepening their understanding of musical concepts and structures.

The other options do not accurately define transcription. Writing original compositions is a creative process that involves composing new music rather than recording or notating existing works. Creating variations on established pieces implies altering existing music, a process known as variation rather than transcription. Translating lyrics into different languages pertains more to the art of lyric adaptation and does not involve notating music itself at all. Each of these activities differs fundamentally from the act of transcription, which is focused on accurately representing heard music in written form.