Post-tonal music

Definition

Post-tonal music refers to a style of composition that emerged in the 20th century, characterized by the abandonment of traditional tonal structures and harmonic frameworks. This music often explores new ways of organizing pitch, rhythm, and texture, leading to diverse approaches such as atonality and serialism. The shift away from tonality reflects a broader desire for innovation and expression in contemporary music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Post-tonal music rejects the traditional harmonic practices that defined classical music up until the late 19th century.
2. Composers like Arnold Schoenberg and Igor Stravinsky were pivotal figures in the development of post-tonal music, experimenting with new forms and structures.
3. The concept of 'free atonality' allows composers to create music without a clear tonal center while exploring various textures and dissonances.
4. Serialism can be seen as an extension of post-tonal techniques, where composers organize not just pitch but other musical elements into a series.
5. Post-tonal music often requires listeners to engage with it differently than tonal music, focusing on aspects like sound texture and color rather than melody and harmony.

Review Questions

• How does post-tonal music differ from traditional tonal music in terms of composition techniques?
  • Post-tonal music differs from traditional tonal music by abandoning established tonal centers and harmonic conventions. While tonal music typically revolves around a key and follows predictable chord progressions, post-tonal compositions use techniques like atonality and serialism to create soundscapes that do not adhere to these rules. This shift opens up new possibilities for expression and innovation in music.
• Discuss how the principles of serialism relate to the broader context of post-tonal music.
  • Serialism is deeply rooted in the principles of post-tonal music as it provides a systematic approach to organizing musical elements beyond pitch alone. In post-tonal compositions, serialism allows composers to create order out of the chaos of atonality by establishing predetermined series for pitches, rhythms, dynamics, and other parameters. This method reflects the overarching goal of post-tonal music: to explore new compositional landscapes while maintaining some form of structure.
• Evaluate the impact of post-tonal music on the evolution of modern musical genres and listening experiences.
  • Post-tonal music has significantly influenced the evolution of modern musical genres by challenging listeners’ expectations and expanding the boundaries of what constitutes music. As it embraces atonality and experimental forms, it has inspired various genres including avant-garde, electronic, and even contemporary popular music. This shift has transformed listening experiences by encouraging audiences to appreciate aspects like texture, timbre, and non-traditional forms instead of solely focusing on melody or harmony.

Related terms

Atonality: A musical system that does not adhere to a key center or tonal hierarchy, allowing for freedom in pitch selection without a specific tonic.

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

Dodecaphony: A compositional technique developed by Arnold Schoenberg that involves using all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale in a particular order or series.