atonalism
/eɪˈtoʊnəˌlɪzəm/
noun
- A style of music that does not follow a traditional key or tonal center, often sounding dissonant or unpredictable.
- The composer's use of atonalism made the piece feel unsettling to some listeners.
- Many 20th-century composers explored atonalism as a way to break free from classical harmony.
- The music teacher explained that atonalism avoids the familiar major and minor scales.