atonalism
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A style or system of musical composition that deliberately avoids establishing a tonal center or key. It is characterized by the absence of functional harmony based on a tonic note and is considered an alternative to traditional diatonic (major/minor key) systems.
Usage
"Atonalism" is a technical term used primarily in music theory, criticism, and history. It describes a specific 20th-century compositional approach. - It functions as a singular, uncountable noun when referring to the general concept or style. - It is often discussed in contrast to tonality.
Examples
- The composer's early work was rooted in Romanticism, but he later embraced atonalism.
- Scholars often debate the origins and impact of atonalism in modern music.
- Her study focuses on the transition from late Romantic tonality to atonalism.
Advanced Usage
- Atonalism is frequently associated with the Second Viennese School, particularly the works of Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern.
- While sometimes used interchangeably with atonality, "atonalism" can more specifically imply the conscious adoption of the system or its theoretical principles, whereas "atonality" often describes the quality of the sound itself.
Variants and Related Words
- Atonal (adjective): Describing music that lacks a tonal center.
- Atonality (noun): The quality or state of being atonal. Often used synonymously with "atonalism," though subtle distinctions exist (see Advanced Usage).
Synonyms
- Atonality (see note in Variants and Related Words)
- Pantonalism (a less common, related term sometimes used by Schoenberg)
- Non-tonal music
Antonyms
- Tonality
- Key-centered music
- Diatonicism
Noun
- the absence of a key; alternative to the diatonic system