Twelve-tone technique

Definition

The twelve-tone technique is a method of composition developed by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century that uses all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific sequence, or tone row, as the basis for a musical work. This technique ensures that each note has equal importance, eliminating the traditional hierarchy of tonal relationships, and serves as a foundation for later developments in atonality and serialism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique was first formally presented in 1921 and was a revolutionary step away from traditional tonal music.
2. Each piece composed using this method is based on a tone row, which can be manipulated through transposition, inversion, retrograde, and retrograde inversion.
3. The twelve-tone technique also influenced composers like Alban Berg and Anton Webern, who further developed the method within their own unique styles.
4. Integral serialism emerged later, where composers like Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen expanded the twelve-tone technique to include other musical parameters such as rhythm and dynamics.
5. Twelve-tone music often challenges listeners due to its complex structures and lack of familiar tonal references, making it a distinctive part of modern classical music.

Review Questions

• How does the twelve-tone technique revolutionize the relationship between notes in a composition compared to traditional tonal music?
  • The twelve-tone technique shifts the focus from a hierarchical system of tonality to an equal treatment of all twelve notes in the chromatic scale. This means that no single note is more important than another, breaking away from traditional practices where certain notes functioned as tonal centers. As a result, composers can create music that feels more free and exploratory, leading to new expressions and structures.
• Discuss the impact of Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique on subsequent composers like Berg and Webern in terms of stylistic development.
  • Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique had a profound influence on composers like Alban Berg and Anton Webern, who incorporated its principles into their own works while also adding personal stylistic elements. Berg, for example, often blended lyrical qualities with twelve-tone structures, creating emotionally compelling music. Webern took a more concise and fragmented approach, focusing on sound texture and pointillism. Together, they expanded the possibilities of twelve-tone composition while maintaining its core principles.
• Evaluate how integral serialism developed from the twelve-tone technique and its implications for the evolution of contemporary classical music.
  • Integral serialism evolved from the foundations laid by the twelve-tone technique, with composers like Boulez and Stockhausen exploring not just pitch organization but also rhythm, dynamics, and timbre using serialized methods. This expansion allowed for even greater complexity and structure in compositions, reflecting an avant-garde movement towards complete control over musical parameters. The implications of this evolution led to contemporary classical music that frequently challenges traditional listening experiences, pushing boundaries and encouraging innovation across diverse musical landscapes.

Related terms

Tone Row: A specific sequence of the twelve pitches used in twelve-tone music, which serves as the basis for the composition's melodic and harmonic structure.

Atonality: A style of music that lacks a tonal center or key, which was a significant departure from traditional harmonic practices.

Serialism: A broader compositional approach that organizes various musical elements, such as pitch, duration, dynamics, and timbre, into series to create a structured piece.