twelve-tone row
LowFormal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
A series of the twelve notes of the chromatic scale used as the basis for composition in twelve-tone or serial music.
In music theory, a twelve-tone row is an ordered arrangement of all twelve pitch classes, serving as the foundational material for a composition, ensuring atonality and structural coherence through techniques like inversion and retrograde.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily associated with Arnold Schoenberg and the Second Viennese School; denotes a specific method in serialism to avoid tonal centers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences; both regions use the term identically in music contexts.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties; may imply modernist or avant-garde music.
Frequency
Equally rare in general usage but standard in academic music discourse in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N of NP (e.g., the twelve-tone row of the piece)V with NP (e.g., compose with a twelve-tone row)NP based on NP (e.g., music based on a twelve-tone row)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable; virtually never used in business contexts.
Academic
Common in music theory, composition studies, and historical analyses of 20th-century music.
Everyday
Rarely used in everyday conversation; specific to musicians, music students, or enthusiasts.
Technical
Core term in serial music theory; essential for describing compositional structures and transformations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- the twelve-tone row structure
American English
- a twelve-tone row analysis
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A twelve-tone row has twelve different notes.
- Composers often use a twelve-tone row to make modern music.
- In his composition, Schoenberg introduced a twelve-tone row to avoid traditional harmony.
- The complexity of Berg's violin concerto stems from its meticulous manipulation of the initial twelve-tone row.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of twelve piano keys in a row, like the twelve months, to remember the ordered sequence of tones.
Conceptual Metaphor
A musical alphabet or code that dictates the language of a composition.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Direct translation 'двенадцатитоновый ряд' may miss the specific technical meaning; ensure context emphasizes serial music technique.
Common Mistakes
- Mispronouncing 'row' as /raʊ/ (like in argument) instead of /rəʊ/ or /roʊ/.
- Confusing with 'twelve-bar blues' or other musical forms.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a twelve-tone row in music?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Arnold Schoenberg is credited with developing the twelve-tone technique in the early 20th century.
Yes, but typically through transformations like inversion, retrograde, or transposition to maintain variety.
Not exactly; it's a structural framework from which melodies and harmonies are derived, often avoiding traditional melodic contours.
It is taught in advanced music theory courses to understand serialism and modernist compositional techniques.