SERIALIST Meaning and
Definition
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A serialist is an individual who practices serialism, a technique commonly associated with the composition of music. Serialism, also known as twelve-tone technique, is a method of composition developed in the early 20th century by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg and later expanded upon by others such as Anton Webern and Alban Berg. It involves organizing musical material, particularly pitch, in a specific order based on a series or tone row.
This technique operates on the principle of using all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a particular order, ensuring no repetition until all twelve pitches have been heard. The series can be developed and transformed through various manipulations, such as transpositions, inversions, and retrogrades, forming the foundation of the compositional structure.
A serialist, thus, refers to a composer or musician who embraces and employs serialism as a primary method of musical composition. They adhere to the strict organization and manipulation of pitch material in accordance with the principles of serialism to create a complex and intellectually rigorous musical language. Serialists often explore the possibilities offered by this technique, experimenting with rhythm, dynamics, and other musical elements within the framework of the twelve-tone system.
The term "serialist" is commonly used within the context of contemporary classical music, where composers continue to explore and develop new approaches to composition.
Common Misspellings for SERIALIST
Etymology of SERIALIST
The term "serialist" is derived from the larger musical framework called serialism, which emerged in the early 20th century as part of the modernist movement in music. Serialism is a compositional technique that aims to organize all musical elements, such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics, etc., using a series or row of musical intervals called a "tone row" or "tone series".
The term "serialism" was coined by René Leibowitz in his book "Schoenberg et son École" (Schoenberg and his School) published in 1947. Leibowitz used the term as a reference to Arnold Schoenberg, an Austrian composer and one of the pioneers of this technique.
As the technique expanded and gained prominence, the term "serialist" came into use to describe composers who adopted and implemented serialism in their compositions.
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