Atonal
Example: La pieza atonal desafía las convenciones musicales tradicionales.
Definition
"Atonal" describes music that lacks a tonal center or key, meaning it does not follow traditional harmonic rules. This type of music often sounds dissonant and unpredictable, as it avoids the familiar patterns of major or minor scales.
Etymology
The word "atonal" comes from the Spanish prefix 'a-' meaning 'without,' combined with 'tonal' relating to tone or key. It literally means 'without tone,' referring to music that does not adhere to a specific key or tonal system. Did you know? The term became popular in the early 20th century as composers sought new ways to express themselves beyond classical harmony.
Learn to use this word actively
"Atonal" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 99 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Spanish as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account