Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
tone-row
noun
/toʊn roʊ/
Definition
A sequence of the twelve different pitches used in a piece of music, especially in twelve-tone technique.
Examples
- The composer skillfully manipulated the tone-row to create a unique sound texture.
- In twelve-tone music, every note must be used before repeating any, ensuring each tone-row is distinct.
- Listeners often find tone-row compositions challenging yet fascinating due to their complexity.
Meaning
In music, a tone-row refers to an arrangement of all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific order, which serves as the basis for a composition. This technique is often associated with 20th-century composers like Arnold Schoenberg.
Synonyms
- Pitch series
- Note sequence
- Twelve-tone series
