Twelve-tone technique

Definition

The twelve-tone technique is a method of musical composition devised by Arnold Schoenberg that uses all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific order or series, known as a tone row. This technique aims to create atonal music while ensuring that each note has equal importance, avoiding the traditional hierarchy of tonal music. It represents a significant shift in the landscape of 20th-century music, highlighting the emergence of atonality and influencing various composers within a new aesthetic framework.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The twelve-tone technique was introduced by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century as a way to compose without adhering to traditional tonality.
2. In this technique, the composer creates a series using each of the twelve pitches only once before repeating any notes, ensuring equal treatment of all notes.
3. Schoenberg developed additional methods for manipulating the tone row, such as inversion (reversing the order of notes) and retrograde (playing the row backward).
4. The twelve-tone technique paved the way for subsequent movements in 20th-century music, notably influencing composers associated with the Second Viennese School.
5. While some listeners found twelve-tone compositions challenging due to their dissonant nature, others appreciated their innovative approach to melody and harmony.

Review Questions

• How does the twelve-tone technique reflect the principles of atonality and contribute to new musical expressions?
  • The twelve-tone technique embodies atonality by systematically organizing all twelve pitches without favoring any particular note, thereby dismantling traditional tonal hierarchies. By ensuring that each note has equal significance in the composition process, this method allows for new and innovative forms of musical expression. It challenges listeners' expectations of melody and harmony, ultimately reshaping how music is created and perceived in the 20th century.
• Discuss how the twelve-tone technique is connected to the broader movement of Expressionism within music and its development in the Second Viennese School.
  • The twelve-tone technique is closely tied to Expressionism as it reflects an emotional intensity and seeks to convey complex psychological states through dissonance and innovative structures. Within the Second Viennese School, composers like Anton Webern and Alban Berg further developed Schoenberg's ideas, creating works that emphasized individual expression while using the twelve-tone method. This movement marked a significant departure from earlier Romantic styles, pushing boundaries in both compositional techniques and emotional depth.
• Evaluate the impact of the twelve-tone technique on contemporary music composition and its relevance today.
  • The twelve-tone technique significantly impacted contemporary music by challenging traditional concepts of melody, harmony, and structure. Its principles have been adopted and adapted by various composers across genres, leading to advancements in serialism and beyond. Today, many elements derived from this method are present in modern compositions, influencing genres like minimalist music, film scores, and avant-garde art music, thus maintaining its relevance in current musical discourse.

Related terms

Atonality: A musical style that lacks a tonal center or key, where no single note is emphasized over others, often leading to dissonant sounds.

Tone Row: A specific sequence of the twelve pitches used in twelve-tone composition, serving as the basis for melodic and harmonic material in a piece.

Serialism: A broader compositional technique that extends the principles of twelve-tone technique to other elements of music such as rhythm, dynamics, and timbre.