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Glite Dictionary
atonalism

atonalism

9.9
Music that has no key or main note to guide the harmony
  • noun
  • /ˌeɪtəˈnælɪzəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : atonalismo
  • The performance highlighted the tension between traditional harmony and atonalism in modern music.

Examples

  • Many contemporary composers have embraced atonalism to allow for greater creative freedom in their works.

  • His scores flirt with atonalism and minimalism, while his "mesopoetry" fuses black humor, the absurd, the grotesque, and "concrete poetry."

    Academic text (1991)

  • A notable feature of atonalism is its rejection of a central musical key, leading to a unique listening experience.

Synonyms

atonality
vsatonalism
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Music that has no clear key or home note

is about the method of composing music without a tonal center

Antonyms

tonality
  • Specialized
1 7.6

The way music sounds because of its key, like bright or sad

How Tonal

tonalist
  • Specialized
8.5
atonalism
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

atonalism singular
atonalisms plural

Morphology

atonalism = atonal (semi-transparent) = a + tone + al + ism

The noun is a standard formation from 'atonal' plus '-ism', meaning the doctrine, practice, or style of being atonal.

Etymology

Atonalism comes from the prefix a- meaning 'not', the word tone meaning 'a musical sound', and the ending -ism meaning 'a style or system'. So, atonalism is a way of making music that does not have one 'home' note or key, which is why it can sound unfamiliar to people used to normal harmony.