Twelve-tone technique

Definition

The twelve-tone technique is a compositional method developed by Arnold Schoenberg that uses a specific series of all twelve pitches in the chromatic scale, treating them equally and avoiding traditional tonal hierarchies. This system emphasizes atonality and allows for innovative melodic and harmonic structures, fundamentally altering the approach to music composition in the 20th century. It represents a departure from traditional forms and embraces a new way of thinking about melody, harmony, and structure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The twelve-tone technique was first articulated by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century, providing a framework for atonal music.
2. In this method, each of the twelve pitches must appear before any one can be repeated, ensuring equal treatment of all tones.
3. Composers like Anton Webern and Alban Berg expanded on Schoenberg's ideas, incorporating the twelve-tone technique into their own works.
4. The tone row can be manipulated through various operations such as inversion (reversing intervals) and transposition (shifting the entire row to start on different pitches).
5. The twelve-tone technique significantly influenced modern music and led to new styles and movements, including minimalism and post-serialism.

Review Questions

• How does the twelve-tone technique change the traditional understanding of melody and harmony in music?
  • The twelve-tone technique shifts the focus away from tonal centers and traditional harmonic progressions, introducing a system where all twelve pitches are treated equally. This change means that melodies can be constructed without relying on familiar chords or keys, leading to innovative and unexpected musical structures. As a result, composers are free to explore new relationships between pitches and create more complex sonic landscapes.
• Discuss how composers like Alban Berg utilized the twelve-tone technique in their works compared to Schoenberg's original ideas.
  • Alban Berg took Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique and infused it with emotional depth and lyrical qualities often found in Romantic music. While Schoenberg's compositions are more abstract and focused on strict serialism, Berg blended these atonal principles with more traditional forms, allowing for expressiveness within the twelve-tone framework. This approach led to pieces that maintained both structural rigor and an emotional connection, expanding the reach of twelve-tone music beyond purely intellectual exercises.
• Evaluate the impact of the twelve-tone technique on the evolution of modern music styles beyond its initial conception.
  • The twelve-tone technique has had a profound impact on modern music, influencing genres far beyond its original context. Composers like Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen embraced serialism to push boundaries further into avant-garde territories. Additionally, elements of this technique can be seen in minimalism, where repetition and variation create textures reminiscent of serial principles. The emphasis on equality among pitches also paved the way for diverse approaches in contemporary composition, showcasing its lasting legacy in reshaping musical language.

Related terms

Serialism: A method of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements, often extending beyond pitch to include dynamics, rhythm, and timbre.

Atonality:

A musical approach that avoids establishing a key or tonal center, creating a sense of ambiguity and freedom in melodic and harmonic development.

Retrograde: A technique used in twelve-tone composition where a sequence of pitches is played backward, providing new material derived from the original tone row.