What does atonalism mean?
Atonalism is the musical doctrine or practice of abandoning tonality — the centuries-old system in which melodies and harmonies are organised around a central key. Emerging most prominently in the early twentieth century through composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern, atonalism treated all twelve notes of the chromatic scale as equally important rather than subordinating them to a tonic. The word is chiefly used in writing about classical and avant-garde music: critics might praise a composer's commitment to atonalism or complain that it produces music that sounds chaotic or unmelodic to unaccustomed ears. By extension, atonalism can occasionally describe a deliberate refusal of established conventions in other arts, though such figurative use is uncommon. Its adjective form is 'atonal', and the closely related noun 'atonality' refers to the quality itself rather than the movement. For listeners, atonalism remains one of the most polarising ideas in modern music — celebrated as liberation by some, dismissed as noise by others.
nounThe avoidance of a tonal centre or key in music; the compositional principle or practice of writing atonal music. It can also refer, by extension, to any deliberate rejection of an established system or convention.
- The musical principle or movement of abandoning tonality, associated especially with early 20th-century composers such as Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern.
- By extension, any systematic rejection of an established norm or convention.
"Schoenberg's early experiments with atonalism scandalised the Viennese concert-going public."
"Critics accused the young composer of hiding behind atonalism rather than mastering melody."
"The novel's stylistic atonalism — its refusal of narrative resolution — divided reviewers."
Rarely used; the word is almost always treated as an uncountable mass noun referring to the movement or practice as a whole.
"Twentieth-century music produced several distinct atonalisms, each rejecting tonality in its own way."
When Schoenberg abandoned the key signature, one angry critic reportedly called his music 'the emancipation of dissonance' — a phrase he liked so much he adopted it himself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of atonalism
Atonalism derives from the German 'Atonalität' and the adjective 'atonal', formed from the Greek prefix 'a-' (meaning 'without') combined with 'tonal', from Greek 'tonos' (tension, pitch). The term arose in the early twentieth century as a label for the new music of Schoenberg and his circle, who rejected traditional major–minor tonality. Cognate forms appear across European languages, including French 'atonalité' and Italian 'atonaalità'.
Related word forms
How atonalism is actually used
Atonalism is largely confined to discussions of classical and avant-garde music, where it carries connotations of intellectual rigour but also, in popular criticism, of harshness or inaccessibility. In extended metaphorical use it remains rare and somewhat literary. The related term 'atonality' is more common when describing the musical quality itself.
Easily confused with atonalism
Atonality is the musical quality of lacking a tonal centre, while atonalism is the broader movement, doctrine, or practice built around that quality.
Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition; despite a superficial sound resemblance, it has no connection to atonalism, which concerns music.