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In response to the demise of the tonal system of composing music, musicians in the early
twentieth century looked for new approaches to composing that would restore a sense of coherence to music.
One such approach was devised by Arnold Schoenberg, who formulated what is now known as the serial composition
system, or "twelve-tone" method.
As a natural consequence of the increasing chromaticism of the time, the previous system
of "functional tonality" which gave music much of its sense of order began to lose its effectiveness. A diatonic
set of seven pitches which defined a key became so diluted by chromaticism that tonality lost its meaning. A
mathematical system for achieving a sense of order was needed; complete equality of all twelve chromatic pitches
and the emancipation of dissonance were also important objectives of the new system.
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| V.S. Manoranjan, Chair, Math | |
| Content: | Charles Argersinger, Music |
| CJ Kentler, Math | |
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Department of Music Pullman, Wa. 99164 1998 |
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