tonalist

A tonalist is a term used in music theory to describe a composer or piece of music that adheres to the principles of tonality. Tonality, in its most common form, refers to a system of organizing pitches around a central note, the tonic, which creates a sense of resolution and hierarchy. This system, also known as functional harmony, dominated Western classical music from the Baroque era through the Romantic period.

Tonal music is characterized by the use of scales, chords, and melodic progressions that establish and reinforce this tonic center. Composers employ devices such as cadences, which are harmonic progressions that signal the end of a musical phrase and often point back to the tonic, to define the tonal framework. The relationships between chords, particularly the dominant-tonic relationship, are fundamental to creating harmonic movement and expectation within a tonal piece.

While the term "tonalist" is generally straightforward, its usage can sometimes be contrasted with composers who explore atonality, a system that deliberately avoids a tonic center, or other non-tonal compositional techniques. The advent of modernism in music led to a questioning and eventual departure from strict tonality by many composers, exploring new harmonic languages. However, tonality remains a foundational concept and a prevalent approach for many musicians and composers throughout history and in contemporary music.