serial music

/ˌsɪriəl ˌmjuzɪk/
IPA guide

Definitions of serial music
  1. noun
    20th century music that uses a definite order of notes as a thematic basis for a musical composition
    synonyms: serialism
    see moresee less
    types:
    12-tone music, 12-tone system, twelve-tone music, twelve-tone system
    a type of serial music introduced by Arnold Schoenberg; uses a tone row formed by the twelve semitones of the chromatic scale (and inverted or backward versions of the row)
    type of:
    music
    an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
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