Atonal music

Definition

Atonal music is a style of composition that avoids establishing a tonal center or key, leading to a more dissonant and ambiguous sound. This approach emerged in the early 20th century as composers sought new means of expression, breaking away from traditional harmonic structures. Atonality often reflects the emotional depth and complexity of modern experiences, making it closely linked to broader artistic movements like Symbolism in poetry.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Atonal music gained prominence through the works of composers like Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern, who were associated with the Second Viennese School.
2. Unlike traditional tonal music, atonal compositions do not resolve around a central note or key, which can create a sense of tension and unpredictability.
3. The transition to atonality can be seen as a reaction against the conventions of Romantic music, which heavily relied on tonality and harmonic resolution.
4. Atonal music often incorporates elements of other modern art movements, such as Symbolism and Expressionism, reflecting the complex emotions and themes found in contemporary literature and art.
5. Many pieces of atonal music utilize innovative techniques such as serialism, where elements like pitch, rhythm, or dynamics are organized into predetermined series.

Review Questions

• How did atonal music represent a shift from traditional tonal music in terms of emotional expression and structure?
  • Atonal music marked a significant departure from traditional tonal music by rejecting established harmonic structures and embracing dissonance. This shift allowed composers to express a wider range of emotions without being constrained by the expectations of resolution found in tonal music. As a result, atonality captured the complexities and ambiguities of modern life, resonating with the emotional depth explored in contemporary Symbolist poetry.
• In what ways did atonal music draw inspiration from Symbolist poetry and contribute to its themes?
  • Atonal music drew inspiration from Symbolist poetry through its shared emphasis on evoking emotions over adhering to conventional forms. Both art forms sought to express inner feelings and realities that could not be captured through traditional methods. Composers infused their works with similar abstract qualities found in Symbolist literature, using innovative musical language to reflect themes of existential uncertainty, ambiguity, and subjective experience.
• Evaluate the impact of atonal music on the evolution of modern musical styles and its relationship with other artistic movements during its emergence.
  • The emergence of atonal music significantly influenced the evolution of modern musical styles by paving the way for further experimentation with harmony and form. Its relationship with other artistic movements like Expressionism and Impressionism underscored a collective push toward breaking free from traditional constraints. This interconnectedness fueled innovations in various genres and inspired future composers to explore unconventional techniques, ultimately reshaping the landscape of 20th-century music and its cultural context.

Related terms

dodecaphony: A compositional technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg, which uses all twelve notes of the chromatic scale equally, eliminating the hierarchy of tonal relationships.

expressionism: An artistic movement that seeks to convey emotional experience rather than physical reality, often characterized by heightened emotional content and innovative forms.

impressionism: A musical style that focuses on creating mood and atmosphere, often using nontraditional scales and harmonies to evoke feelings rather than adhere to strict forms.