An Atonal State of Mind by David Hart

An Atonal State of Mind by David Hart
Atonality in its broadest sense describes music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality in this sense usually describes compositions written from about 1908 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used and the notes of the chromatic scale function independently of one another (Anon. 1994). More narrowly, the term describes music that does not conform to the system of tonal hierarchies that characterized classical European music between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries (Lansky, Perle, and Headlam 2001).

More narrowly still, the term is sometimes used to describe music that is neither tonal nor serial, especially the pre-twelve-tone music of the Second Viennese School, principally Alban Berg, Arnold Schoenberg, and Anton Webern (Lansky, Perle, and Headlam 2001). According to John Rahn, however, "[a]s a categorical label, 'atonal' generally means only that the piece is in the Western tradition and is not 'tonal' " (Rahn 1980, 1); "serialism arose partly as a means of organizing more coherently the relations used in the preserial 'free atonal' music....Thus many useful and crucial insights about even strictly serial music depend only on such basic atonal theory" (Rahn 1980, 2)

Composers such as Alexander Scriabin, Claude Debussy, Béla Bartók, Paul Hindemith, Sergei Prokofiev, Igor Stravinsky, and Edgard Varèse have written music that has been described, in full or in part, as atonal (Baker 1980 & 1986; Bertram 2000; Griffiths 2001; Kohlhase 1983; Lansky and Perle 2001; Obert 2004; Orvis 1974; Parks 1985; Rülke 2000; Teboul 199596; Zimmerman 2002).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• atonal
• state
• mind
• David
• Hart
• hartistry
• piano
• solo
• originale

[TaterGumfries]

Seems like a lot of atonal music is just bein real careful not to make any sounds might be taken for tonality. Awfully odd way to make music. Why not just choose some microtonal instrument so you don't have to worry about accidentally hittin II V I? Then you could just play the hell out of it.

[hartistry]

@TaterGumfries That's a good point. I have a difficult time

playing the entire piece atonally. I like a little mix of tonality.

Dave Hart

[hartistry]

too much melody too much rhythm too many harmonic chords!!!

[vaguelyhumanoid]

@hartistry Atonal music doesn't have to sound dissonant. If it's purely chromatic (as opposed to using chromatic accents while having a defined key) it's still atonal.

[hartistry]

@vaguelyhumanoid Thanks for the clarifications. Dave

[Absurdist247]

wonderful

this is the first atonal experience for me .. and i liked it so much .. thanks

[kasyapa]

neat playing. :) reminds me of scriabin. so what do you think is the organizational principle of atonal playing, if any?

[Easleytee]

@TaterGumfries

You're musical illiteracy is sui generis.

[ttomace]

Why is atonal music composed? What is the meaning in it? This is the 1st atonal music ive heard and id like to know what its all about. PS Im a listener of Baroque. Why did the people move from the Baroque styles and rules?

[alecman95]

the intro is too long in my mind..

but anyway : very good stuff man !

[vaguelyhumanoid]

@hartistry You're welcome.

[surfchick94]

did you follow the twelve tone row? because i must say, there are times when i can almost hear a sense of key. almost.

[ililil]

Great ...my brain loves it!