medley

A succession of well-known melodies loosely connected to one another; sometimes synonymous with *potpourri. The term was used in the 16th century, especially by the *virginalists. It is now applied principally to popular music, especially to a selection of tunes from a musical or made popular by a particular performer. The overtures of light operas and musicals are often medleys of the most prominent melodies in the associated work.