Atonal Music - Revolution or Evolution?

The third of a series that looks at the relationship between the frequency ratios of the harmonic series and the development of western music over the centuries.

This video examines the evolution of melody and harmony from the Romantic period to the 20th century with reference to these ratios. From Liszt and Wagner, through Debussy and Schoenberg, to Stockhausen, Boulez and beyond, we reveal the common origins of both atonal and tonal music.

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Viewers will find some knowledge of musical terminology helpful.

00:00 Opening titles
00:17 Introduction
01:38 The Romantics
03:27 Tonal ambiguity - Liszt, Wagner
05:18 The whole-tone scale
06:05 Arnold Schoenberg, the twelve-tone system
09:58 Links between harmonic/inharmonic timbres and tonality/atonality
11:57 Acoustical basis of traditional harmony, atonal and microtonal music
12:51 Inharmonic timbres in post-war atonal music
14:40 Computer manipulation of inharmonic timbres
15:52 Spectral music - throughout history
16:27 Conclusion


#harmonicseries #melody #harmony #atonalmusic