tonality

American  

[toh-nal-i-tee] / toʊˈnæl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

tonalities

1. Music.

   1. the sum of relations, melodic and harmonic, existing between the tones of a scale or musical system.

   2. a particular scale or system of tones; a key.

2. (in painting, graphics, etc.) the system of tones or tints, or the color scheme, of a picture.

3. the quality of tones.

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tonality British  

/ təʊˈnælɪtɪ /

noun

1. music

   1. the actual or implied presence of a musical key in a composition

   2. the system of major and minor keys prevalent in Western music since the decline of modes Compare atonality

2. the overall scheme of colours and tones in a painting

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Other Word Forms

• nontonality
  noun
• tonalitive
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tonality

First recorded in 1830–40; tonal + -ity

Example Sentences

Neal Stulberg will conduct a chorus consisting of the ensemble Tonality and members of Los Angeles church and synagogue choirs; a brass and percussion orchestra; and two vocal soloists.

From New York Times • Feb. 24, 2023

Tonality appears in music across diverse genres and cultures, though the scales differ greatly between, say, Indian classical and American folk.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 11, 2022

Performed by the Hollywood Studio Orchestra and the talented local choir Tonality, “Animal Requiem” also features Fuller’s husband and longtime creative partner, Pete Townshend of the Who.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2019

Tonality had its comeback, to the extent that it ever went away.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 20, 2018

Herein then is the principle of Tonality: That all parts of the picture should be bound together by the dominating color or colors of the picture.

From Pictorial Composition and the Critical Judgment of Pictures by Poore, Henry Rankin

Related Words

• timbre