In music, "modulation" refers to the process of changing from one key to another within a piece. It can involve shifting the tonal center or altering the key signature.
Let's break down the terms you mentioned:
- Key: Modulation often involves changing the key of the music, moving to a different tonal center.
- Meter: This refers to time signature changes, which can also occur in a piece of music but are typically referred to as "changing meter" rather than modulation.
- Tonality: Similar to key, this term describes the character of a piece of music based on the key and the relationships between chords.
- Timber (likely a typo for "timbre"): Refers to the quality of a sound. Although timbre can change throughout a piece, it is not specifically what modulation refers to.
- Tone quality: Similar to timbre, it describes how sound is produced, rather than indicating a modulation.
In summary, the correct interpretation of modulation in your list primarily aligns with a "change of key" or "tonality."