Film Scoring 101 - Atonality and Clusters

Film Scoring 101 - Atonality and Clusters

Atonality in its broadest sense is music that lacks a tonal center, or key. Atonality usually describes compositions written from about 1908 to the present day where a hierarchy of pitches focusing on a single, central tone is not used, and the notes of the chromatic scale function independently of one another
The first phase, known as "free atonality" or "free chromaticism", involved a conscious attempt to avoid traditional diatonic harmony. Works of this period include the opera Wozzeck (1917–1922) by Alban Berg and Pierrot Lunaire (1912) by Schoenberg.
A tone cluster is a musical chord comprising at least three adjacent tones in a scale. tone clusters are based on the chromatic scale and are separated by semitones. For instance, three adjacent piano keys (such as C, C♯, and D) struck simultaneously produce a tone cluster. Diatonic and pentatonic stacks are referred to as "tone clusters" only when they consist of four or more successive notes in the scale. In standard Western classical music practice, all tone clusters are classifiable as secundal chords—that is, they are constructed from minor seconds (intervals of one semitone), major seconds (intervals of two semitones)

An Atonal cluster is a musical chord comprising at least three adjacent tones in a scale. tone clusters are based on the chromatic scale and are separated by semitones. For instance, three adjacent piano keys (such as C, C♯, and D) struck simultaneously produce a tone cluster. I also have another category that I refer to open atonal clusters. This is where Tonal and Atonal clusters are spread into open position by combining minor and major 2nds, minor and major M7ths and minor and Major 9ths. An open tonal cluster would be a voicing like C D E where all the notes are M2 intervals separated by octaves. An atonal cluster would be a voicing like C C# B Bb.


Examples of pieces with Clusters:

Henry Cowell - The Tides of Manaunaun

1917 Premiere Opening bars of The Tides of Manuanuan, showing thirteen-note tone clusters. Massive clusters of 25 notes or more, to be played with the left forearm, occur later.

Bela Bartok - Piano Sonata 1926

Messiaen "The Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ") is a work written between 1965 and 1969 by Olivier Messiaen. It is based on the account found in the synoptic gospels of Jesus' transfiguration. The writing is on a very large scale; the work requires around 200 performers. The forces required include a mixed choir, seven instrumental soloists and a large orchestra. It is scored for a mixed choir (10 voices per part), 7 instrumental soloists and a very large orchestra.

Charles Ives - Piano Sonata No.2 also called “The Concord Sonata”

Examples of Atonality:

Béla Bartók

Three Etudes for Piano, op. 18
First Sonata for Violin and Piano (1921)
Second Sonata for Violin and Piano (1922)
Alban Berg
Lulu[
Wozzeck
Chamber Concerto

Elliot Carter

String Quartet No. 1 (1950)

Arnold Schoenberg

George Lieder [The Book of the Hanging Gardens] (1909), Op. 15/1
Erwartung (1909), Op. 17
String Quartet No. 2 (1907), Op. 10, last movement
Five Pieces for Orchestra (Fünf Orchesterstücke) (1909), Op. 16
Pierrot Lunaire (1912), Op. 21
Drei Klavierstücke (1909), Op. 11
Four Orchestral Songs (1916), Op. 22
Sechs kleine Klavierstücke (1913), op. 19
Five Pieces for Piano, op.23

Igor Stravinsky

The Rite of Spring (1913)

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[marceloBAdARI]

Be
Beat
Beato
Beatonal
Be Atonal

Ps: I think atonality deeply reverberates in my soul... These beautiful clusters you played have really inspired me. Thanks, Mr. Beato.

[mark-zeen]

Rick these simple ideas are opening broad avenues of thought and giving a license, so to speak, to me to examine deeper musical ideas than I had braved before. I have played piano most of my 66 years of life and explored dissonances and multi-tonality on my own but your ability to narrow ones focus on specific concepts truly is a blessing for me. The world needs more dedicated mentors and educated people like yourself to fill the void in the arts that education no longer seems to deem worthy of spending money and time on for young folk. Thanx millions Rick.

[fotgjengeren]

This video really encapsulates a lot of what I think about popular music. For me harmony is the biggest area that is lacking when it comes to most artists. To see a video like this is really refreshing, especially the way the dissonant harmonies end up being so pleasurable to listen to. Immediately after watching the video, I had a surge of energy and improvised with these clusters both melodically and harmonically. I will definitely keep these ideas in mind for new songs/compositions. Thanks a lot, Rick!

[Cugelclever]

Hi Rick. I am a musician who has been in and out of studios since I was 14. I think I have learned more from your vids than I ever did from the engineers I worked with over the last 25 years. Thank you for all your work and for sharing it..

[ashleyblack]

How important intended atonality actually is to the color of tone, the right mix of sugars and salts, brilliant video rick! Saving us all from musical diabetes!

[estoico]

Thanks Mr Beato. Your channel is what I was looking for a long time. GBU

[daleturner]

BAD ARSE!! I just searched Google for the "Wozzeck Chord" and this popped up! Thanks Rick!

[Gnurklesquimp]

I absolutely love using those minor ones to build tension towards a more harmonic and consonant chorus in a dark piano piece

[benthomas]

I've been working with atonal guitar musjc for a bit now and I've always wanted to learn how to write for strings as well. These videos have been a great help!

[HarrisZheng]

I've always thought composition as more voicing and interval based. Thanks for reinforcing my ideas, Rick!

[alexanderdelacruz]

Tnx Rick, you are a great musician and teacher.

[dr_b_composer]

threnody of the victims of hiroshima is literally THE most disturbing piece of music ive ever heard, and perhaps quite rightly so. thanks for introducing it to us

[blackfeather]

Excellent video Rick. Loving these classes on Film Scoring. Many thanks for putting these together.

[seiph]

Rick! for years I've always heard that piece of Shawshank Redemption from the scene when he's escaping and finally someone else has brought that to the forefront, and I absolutely love those chords. Thank you so much for mentioning that example.

[JoeSatrianiFan]

Hi Rick! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I've learned lots from following your YT-Channel!

[PaulCassidyOrchestrations]

Hey Rick! Really enjoying your channel. You are a diamond for making these videos sharing your ideas with us! Many thanks buddy! :)

[IanDateMusic]

Love your sounds and ideas. Very inspiring. Thank you

[ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

Thank you for bringing method into the madness! Being a huge fan of Bernard Herrmann, I love atonal (or a combination of tonal and atonal) compositions if done right. It's easy playing/writing just random notes by trial and error, but to get those wonderful, dark, ominous movements with purpose - that's the hard part. Thanks for breaking it down for us! P.S. agreed: your strings sound wonderful. Love the soft 'breathy' bow attacks.

[sebastianmarquez]

Keep on going Rick! You are the best! Thanks!

[TheBoxBand]

Every single topic in music I search, I end up with your channel. this is amazing! how rich your video archive is!