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What is the bitonality? — Part 1 —

Hello. Do you know what “bitonality“ is? It is one of the expressions used when making music.

Bitonality attracts me because it is such a unique method.

I want to share my experience with bitonal music with you!

Would you like to listen to “Froggy’s song” with the bitonal part?

Although the beginning and ending parts of this song sound usual, you would feel the middle is unusual or odd.

Yes, this music includes an element of bitonality in the middle.

In most music, the melody and the accompaniment are based on the same key(tonality). For example, if the melody is in C major, the accompaniment is also in C major.

However, in the song above, two keys(tonalities) coexist: the melody is in C major, while the accompaniment is based on a whole-tone scale*. So, it is called bitonality!

When you listened to this music, what did you think? Did you feel, “Stop for a moment! I don’t want to listen to anymore” or “It’s unique! I want to listen it once more”?

If you’d like, please listen to another piece of music “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with bitonality.

How about this time? The first half of this song features bitonality while the latter half is in C major.

To tell you the truth, I do feel a sense of incongruity in the bitonal parts, just as many people do. However, bitonal music also bring me pleasure, because it has a unique charm like no other.

I would be glad if you became interested in bitonality. And one day, you might say. “Bitonality? Yes, I know it well, it’s so unique, isn’t it?” and so on.

Thank you for reading my writing. I would be happy if you could give me some feedback. See you next time again!

* Whole tone scale is made up of 6 whole tones. It started to be used in works by some modern composers.