How Do You Spell SERIALISM?

Pronunciation: [sˈi͡əɹɪəlˌɪzəm] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "serialism" is determined by its pronunciation. It is pronounced as /ˈsɪə.ri.ə.lɪzəm/, where the stress falls on the second syllable. The word is derived from the term "series" and refers to a compositional technique used in music where a specific order of notes or pitches are used to create a melody. In phonetic transcription, the first syllable is pronounced as /sɪə/ with a long "i" sound, while the second and third syllables are pronounced as /ri/ and /əlɪzəm/ respectively.

SERIALISM Meaning and Definition

  1. Serialism, also known as twelve-tone technique, is a compositional method developed in the early 20th century, particularly associated with the Second Viennese School composers Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, and Anton Webern. It is a system based on the organization of pitch material, aiming to free music from traditional tonality.

    Serialism operates by utilizing a series, known as a tone row or row, which consists of all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale arranged in a specific order. This row serves as the basis for constructing melodies, harmonies, and other musical elements. The row is then manipulated in various ways, such as transposition, inversion, and retrograde, forming the structural framework of the composition.

    One of the fundamental principles of serialism is the absence of a tonal center or hierarchy of pitches. Instead, all twelve pitches are treated equally, allowing for a more complex and dissonant sound. Traditional harmonic relationships are replaced by a focus on intervallic relationships and the manipulation of the row in different musical dimensions.

    Serialism had a profound impact on the development of contemporary classical music. It challenged existing tonal systems and opened up new possibilities for composition, expanding the harmonic and melodic language of music. While initially met with controversy and resistance, serialism remains an important and influential technique in modern classical music, influencing composers well beyond the Second Viennese School.

Common Misspellings for SERIALISM

Etymology of SERIALISM

The word "serialism" originated from the musical technique known as "serial composition" or "twelve-tone technique". This technique was developed by Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century as a way to organize pitch material in a non-tonal manner. The term "serial" in this context refers to the use of a series or a sequence of all twelve pitches of the chromatic scale, called a "tone row". By employing this technique, composers aimed to create musical works based on a systematic manipulation of this series, without emphasizing any specific tonal center. The term "serialism" emerged as a noun form of "serial", describing the compositional method itself and its exploration of pitch organization.

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