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atonalism

[ ey-tohn-l-iz-uhm ]

noun

, Music.
  1. a note, phrase, etc., that seems harsh or discordant.


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Other Words From

  • a·tonal·ist noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of atonalism1

First recorded in 1925–30; atonal + -ism
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Example Sentences

Tristan und Isolde is rightly regarded as a turning point in music history; its opening chord sequence points to the atonalism and extended tonalities of the 20th century.

Throughout his career Mr. Hoiby proudly rejected popular musical currents — from atonalism to minimalism to postmodernism, placing himself instead in the tradition of his idols: Barber, Strauss, Mahler and especially Schubert.

Mr. Lees’s work defied tidy pigeonholing, in part because he shunned musical styles, like atonalism and minimalism, that were practically de rigueur among 20th-century composers.

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atonalatonality