1. Atonality and Polytonality:
- Atonality refers to music that lacks a traditional tonal center or key. It involves the use of dissonant intervals and unconventional harmonies to create a sense of ambiguity and tension.
- Polytonality is the simultaneous use of two or more tonalities or key centers within a piece of music, resulting in a clashing or layered effect.
2. Serialism:
- Serialism is a compositional method based on the organization of musical elements, such as pitch, duration, and dynamics, into ordered series or sequences. Each element is systematically varied and developed throughout the piece.
3. Chance Music and Aleatoric Music:
- Chance music, also known as aleatoric music, involves elements of randomness or chance in its composition. Composers may incorporate improvisation, dice rolls, or other unpredictable factors to determine certain aspects of the music.
4. Electroacoustic and Electronic Music:
- Electroacoustic music combines traditional acoustic instruments with electronic sounds and technologies, such as tape recorders, synthesizers, and electronic effects.
- Electronic music, on the other hand, is entirely created using electronic means and does not involve acoustic instruments.
5. Minimalism:
- Minimalism is a style of music characterized by repetitive patterns, limited musical material, and a gradual evolution of sound over time. It often creates a sense of meditative contemplation and focuses on the subtle changes and variations within a simple structure.
6. Spectral Music:
- Spectral music is based on the analysis and manipulation of the sound spectrum. Composers use computer technology to study and transform the sonic characteristics of sounds, creating complex and rich sonic textures.
7. Extended Techniques:
- Instrumentalists and vocalists employ extended techniques to produce novel sounds beyond traditional playing or singing methods. These techniques may involve unusual articulations, preparations of the instrument, or vocal sounds such as glossolalia or throat singing.
These techniques allowed composers to break away from traditional musical practices and explore new sonic possibilities, resulting in a diverse range of musical styles and innovations that continue to shape contemporary music.