Non-tonal

In music, 'non-tonal' describes music that does not adhere to a key or tonal center. It abandons the traditional harmonic relationships and melodic structures built around a central tonic. Instead, non-tonal music explores a wide range of harmonic possibilities, often utilizing dissonance and complex chord progressions without a sense of resolution to a specific key. This encompasses a spectrum of styles, from atonality to free atonality, and often involves techniques like serialism or microtonality. The absence of a tonal center can create a sense of instability, tension, or exploration in the listener.

Non-tonal meaning with examples

• Early 20th-century composers like Arnold Schoenberg and Anton Webern pioneered non-tonal music, creating soundscapes that challenged conventional musical expectations. Their compositions moved away from the comforting resolution of traditional harmony.
• The dissonant and angular melodies of the string quartet were distinctly non-tonal, creating a feeling of unease and disruption that perfectly mirrored the drama of the scene in the film.
• Avant-garde jazz frequently incorporates elements of non-tonality, allowing improvisation to venture beyond the established harmonic structures and explore the outer limits of sound.
• The film score was almost entirely non-tonal. Its effect being to build a sense of dread and suspense throughout the scenes the music underscored.
• Experimentation with unusual scales and harmonies led the composer to embrace non-tonal techniques, resulting in music that was challenging but also incredibly thought-provoking.