atonality

[ ey-toh-nal-i-tee ]

noun

, Music.

1. the absence of key or tonal center.
2. an atonal principle or style of composition.

atonality

/ ˌæ-; ˌeɪtəʊˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

1. absence of or disregard for an established musical key in a composition
2. the principles of composition embodying this and providing a radical alternative to the diatonic system

Word History and Origins

Origin of atonality¹

First recorded in 1920–25; atonal + -ity

Example Sentences

But Cherry identified with Coleman’s atonality and dissonance, even if he himself played tight, expressive notes that didn’t inflict much chaos.

From New York Times

Ms Barford said Bailey was also "fascinated by" and "deeply knowledgeable about" the sounds his guitar could produce, experimenting with noise, atonality and the set-up of his instrument.

From BBC

At what point did you and he start incorporating aggression and atonality?

From Los Angeles Times

When Korngold returned to absolute music, it was to slay the same old dragons, though atonality had hardly achieved popular acceptance in the interim.

From New York Times

His essentially conservative tastes — atonality for him was close to immorality — had freer rein over time; the Sony box contains just one work, Barber’s First Symphony, that was written after Mahler’s death in 1911.

From New York Times