Twelve-tone technique

Definition

The twelve-tone technique is a method of musical composition that uses all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific order, or series, ensuring that each note has equal importance and is not centered around any single tonal note. This approach reflects a radical shift away from traditional tonality, creating a new system of musical organization that promotes atonality. The technique is closely associated with the work of Arnold Schoenberg and his followers, who sought to redefine the rules of music in the early 20th century.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The twelve-tone technique was developed by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 1920s as a means to create music free from traditional tonal constraints.
2. In this technique, composers use a 'tone row' consisting of all twelve pitches in a specific order, which can be manipulated through transposition, inversion, retrograde, and retrograde inversion.
3. Schoenberg's method aimed to ensure that no single note was emphasized over others, leading to a more democratic approach to musical structure.
4. The twelve-tone technique became foundational for many composers associated with the Second Viennese School, influencing later movements in 20th-century music.
5. Despite its initial resistance from audiences accustomed to tonal music, the twelve-tone technique paved the way for new forms of expression and experimentation in modern music.

Review Questions

• How did the twelve-tone technique signify a departure from traditional tonality?
  • The twelve-tone technique marked a significant break from traditional tonality by introducing atonality and eliminating hierarchical relationships between notes. Instead of centering around a tonic note, composers arranged all twelve pitches equally within a series or 'row.' This method challenged established norms of harmony and melody, creating a new compositional landscape where each note held equal importance.
• Discuss how Schoenberg’s development of the twelve-tone technique influenced his contemporaries and shaped the Second Viennese School.
  • Schoenberg's development of the twelve-tone technique had a profound impact on his contemporaries within the Second Viennese School, such as Alban Berg and Anton Webern. They embraced this method as a means to explore new musical territories, experimenting with serialism and further advancing atonal music. Schoenberg's innovations provided a framework that encouraged these composers to break free from conventional harmonic practices and push boundaries in their own works.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the twelve-tone technique on modern music and its reception among audiences.
  • The long-term implications of the twelve-tone technique on modern music are substantial, as it introduced ideas that reshaped the landscape of composition beyond Schoenberg's era. Its influence can be seen in various styles and genres, prompting composers to experiment with structure and sound. Initially met with resistance by audiences familiar with tonal music, its acceptance grew over time, leading to greater openness toward avant-garde styles and paving the way for contemporary approaches to music that challenge traditional norms.

Related terms

atonality: A musical style that avoids establishing a central tone or key, resulting in music that does not adhere to traditional harmonic structures.

row: The specific sequence of the twelve tones used in twelve-tone technique, which serves as the basis for melodic and harmonic material in the composition.

retrograde: A transformation of the original row in which the sequence of notes is played backward, adding variation and complexity to the twelve-tone composition.