atonales

Atonales is a term used in music to describe compositions that lack a tonal center or key. In traditional Western music, pieces are typically organized around a tonic, which serves as a point of rest and resolution. Atonal music deliberately avoids this hierarchical structure, treating all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale equally. This approach emerged in the early 20th century, with composers like Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern being prominent figures in its development.

The concept of atonality is often associated with the Second Viennese School and their techniques, such as serialism or twelve-tone technique. This method involves arranging the twelve pitches in a specific order, known as a tone row, and then manipulating this row through various transformations. While the term "atonal" literally means "without tonality," it's important to note that composers using these techniques did not necessarily see themselves as simply abandoning tonality, but rather as exploring new ways of organizing musical sound. The perception of atonality can be subjective, as some listeners may still find underlying patterns or a sense of organization even in highly dissonant music. The development and reception of atonal music have been significant in shaping the course of 20th and 21st-century classical music.