- atonality
- atonality atonality n.
the absence of a key; alternative to the diatonic system.
Syn: atonalism. [WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
atonality
Look at other dictionaries:
Atonality — in its broadest sense describes music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality in this sense usually describes compositions written from about 1907 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used … Wikipedia
atonality — 1958, from ATONAL (Cf. atonal) + ITY (Cf. ity) … Etymology dictionary
atonality — [ā΄tō nal′ə tē] n. Music in composition, the organization of tones in which all tones of the chromatic scale have equal importance, without relation to a tonal center or key; the absence of tonality … English World dictionary
atonality — /ay toh nal i tee/, n. Music. 1. the absence of key or tonal center. 2. an atonal principle or style of composition. [1920 25; ATONAL + ITY] * * * In music, the absence of functional harmony as a primary structural element. Probably originally a… … Universalium
atonality — atonalità ит. [атоналита/] atonalité фр. [атоналитэ/] Atonalität нем. [атоналитэ/т] atonality англ. [этэнэ/лити] атональность, отсутствие ладовых связей … Словарь иностранных музыкальных терминов
atonality — atonal ► ADJECTIVE Music ▪ not written in any key or mode. DERIVATIVES atonality noun … English terms dictionary
atonality — noun see atonal … New Collegiate Dictionary
atonality — noun a) A style of music that is written without a key. b) A passage written without a key … Wiktionary
atonality — n. (Music) absence of a key; atonal style of composition; alternative to the diatonic system … English contemporary dictionary
atonality — ato·nal·i·ty … English syllables
