Atonality: meaning, definitions and examples

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atonality

 

[ ษ™หˆtoสŠnษ™lษชti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

music theory

Atonality is a characteristic of music that lacks a tonal center or key. This means the music does not revolve around a central note as is typical in tonal music. Instead, atonal music is often marked by the equal treatment of all pitches, leading to a more dissonant sound.

Synonyms

dissonance, non-tonality

Examples of usage

  • The composer experimented with atonality in his latest work.
  • Atonality challenges traditional notions of harmony.
  • Many 20th-century composers embraced atonality in their music.

Translations

Translations of the word "atonality" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น atonalidade

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคŸเคจเคฒเคฟเคŸเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Atonalitรคt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ atonalitas

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐั‚ะพะฝะฐะปัŒะฝั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ atonalnoล›ฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็„ก่ชฟๆ€ง

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท atonalitรฉ

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ atonalidad

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท atonalite

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฌด์กฐ์„ฑ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ู„ุงู…ูˆุณูŠู‚ูŠุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ atonalita

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ atonalita

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ— ่ฐƒๆ€ง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ atonalnost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ atรณnalitet

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐั‚ะพะฝะฐะปะดั‹ะปั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒขแƒแƒœแƒแƒšแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ atonallฤฑq

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ atonalidad

Etymology

The term 'atonality' was coined in the early 20th century, primarily associated with the rise of modernist music compositions that rejected traditional tonal frameworks. Its historical roots can be traced back to innovations in European classical music, particularly through the works of composers like Arnold Schoenberg and his followers, who sought to explore new harmonic structures that did not rely on established tonal relationships. This movement emerged as a reaction against the constraints of previous musical styles, marking a significant shift in the evolution of Western music. The prefix 'a-' means 'without,' paired with 'tonality,' which refers to the system of tones in music. Thus, 'atonality' literally means 'without tonality.' Over the decades, atonality has influenced a range of musical genres and continues to be a point of discussion in music theory.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,788, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.