12-tone System (Noun)
Meaning
A type of serial music introduced by Arnold Schoenberg; uses a tone row formed by the twelve semitones of the chromatic scale (and inverted or backward versions of the row).
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The 12-tone system revolutionized the way composers approached musical structure and harmony in the early 20th century.
- Arnold Schoenberg's development of the 12-tone system in the 1920s marked a significant turning point in the evolution of Western classical music.
- By using the 12-tone system, composers could create complex and innovative musical works that challenged traditional tonal harmony.
- The 12-tone system allowed for a wide range of expressive possibilities, from the atonal experimentation of Alban Berg to the serialist rigor of Pierre Boulez.
- In the 12-tone system, the tone row serves as the fundamental material from which the entire composition is derived, often through various transformations and manipulations.