Tonally Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐ถ
tonally
[หtoสnษli ]
Definition
sound quality
The term 'tonally' refers to anything related to tone or pitch in sound. It is often used to describe the quality or character of sound, especially in music or vocal performance. When a piece of music is described tonally, it usually indicates aspects such as harmony, melody, and the emotional qualities conveyed through sound. Understanding a piece tonally can enhance the listener's experience by providing insight into the emotional and psychological undertones.
Synonyms
harmonically, musically, sonically.
Examples of usage
- The singer performed tonally exquisite pieces.
- The instruments were perfectly aligned tonally.
- She spoke tonally, emphasizing her emotions.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Music
- In music, 'tonally' refers to the way melodies and harmonies create a specific emotional atmosphere.
- A composition can be described as 'tonally rich' if it uses a wide variety of notes and harmonies, enhancing its emotional depth.
- Genres like jazz often employ 'tonal' experimentation to evoke unique feelings, sometimes moving away from traditional tonal centers.
Art Criticism
- In visual arts, tones refer to how colors can evoke different emotions, like warm tones for comfort or cold tones for sadness.
- Critics often discuss a painting's tonally cohesive qualities when assessing its emotional impact and harmony.
- Photographers manipulate tonal ranges to create dramatic effects, influencing the viewerโs emotional response.
Psychology
- Studies show that tonal qualities in music can significantly affect mood and cognition, influencing everything from productivity to relaxation.
- Colors associated with certain tones can affect emotions; for instance, a bright tone might evoke joy while a muted tone might evoke sadness.
- People often respond differently to tonal communication, such as spoken language or music, illustrating the psychological complexity of sound.
Literature
- In literature, the tonal quality of a piece can set the mood, guiding readers' emotional experiences.
- Authors may shift tones throughout a narrative to enhance character development or plot progression, creating tension or relief.
- Poetry often plays with tonal shifts within stanzas to evoke contrasting feelings, emphasizing the duality of human experiences.
Origin of 'tonally'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'tonus', meaning 'tone', which relates to sound pitch.
- In the 19th century, music theory expanded the concept of 'tonality' to describe the emotional quality of music.
- The suffix '-ally' suggests a relationship, making 'tonally' indicate a way something is expressed through tone.
The word 'tonally' derives from 'tone,' which comes from the Latin word 'tonus,' meaning 'tension, tone, or tune.' This Latin term bequeathed its meaning to Middle English in the form of 'ton' during the 14th century, when musicians and artists sought to express nuanced aspects of sound. The adverbial form 'tonally' evolved to characterize various qualities relating to tone in musical and spoken expressions. The term gained more popularity in the 20th century, particularly as music theory advanced and the analysis of tonal systems became crucial in understanding compositions. Today, 'tonally' is widely employed in musicology, performance arts, and even in discussions surrounding emotions conveyed through speech.