polytonality

American  

[pol-ee-toh-nal-i-tee] / ˌpɒl i toʊˈnæl ɪ ti /

Also polytonalism

noun

Music.

1. the use of more than one key at the same time.

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polytonality British  

/ ˌpɒlɪtəʊˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

1. music the simultaneous use of more than two different keys or tonalities

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Other Word Forms

• polytonal adjective
• polytonalist noun
• polytonally adverb

Etymology

Origin of polytonality

First recorded in 1920–25; poly- + tonality

Example Sentences

A silent gaze, like white light being all colors, divulges all things in polyrhythms and polytonality.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2020

Later, people like Charles Ives pursued polytonality more deeply.

From The Guardian • Nov. 5, 2016

Mr. Brubeck experimented with time signatures and polytonality and explored musical theater and the oratorio, baroque compositional devices and foreign modes.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2012

As for Charlap and Rosnes, the contrast between his swinging, bebop precision and her splayed, pulsing polytonality is a special treat.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 13, 2011

Teacher Milhaud filled him with counterpoint and polytonality, fired him with the conviction that improvisation of jazz was as valid for him as the improvisation of toccatas and fugues was for Bach.

From Time Magazine Archive