Twelve-tone

Description

Twelve-tone music is characterized by its use of a series of all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a fixed, recurring order, known as a tone row, which serves as the basis for the composition. This method avoids traditional tonal centers, creating a more atonal and dissonant sound.

History

The twelve-tone technique was developed by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century as a way to structure atonal music. It was a response to the perceived limitations of traditional tonal music and sought to provide a new framework for composition. The technique was further developed and used by Schoenberg's students and other composers, becoming a significant movement in 20th-century classical music.