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atonality

 - 2 dictionary results

a⋅to⋅nal⋅i⋅ty

  [ey-toh-nal-i-tee]
Use atonality in a Sentence
–noun Music.
1. the absence of key or tonal center.
2. an atonal principle or style of composition.
Origin:
1920–25; atonal + -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To atonality
a·to·nal·i·ty   (ā'tō-nāl'ĭ-tē)   
n.   pl. a·to·nal·i·ties Music

  1. The absence of a tonal center and of harmonies derived from a diatonic scale corresponding to such a center; lack of tonality.

  2. A style of composition that lacks such a tonal center and its derived harmonies.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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