Centonization
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Centonization refers to the practice of composing melodies based on pre-existing melodic figures and formulas.
Centonization differs strongly from the modern emphasis on originality in composition, but it is in fact a very old and widespread technique. The musical modes used in Gregorian chant in fact reflect this use; the modes were actually more collections of appropriate melodic formulas than a set of pitches. Similar ideas appear in the music theory of other cultures; for example, the maqam or Arab music, the raga of Indian music, or the pathet of Indonesian music. These do not designate merely scales, but sets of appropriate melodies and ornaments (they are sometimes called "melody types"). The originality of the composer lies in how he or she links these formulas together and elaborates upon them in a new way.
Reference
Hoppin, Richard. Medieval Music. New York: Norton, 1978. Page 69.
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