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What is the bitonality? — Part 2 —

I’ll talk to you about bitonality that is one of music expressions used by composer. While a common music is composed of one tonality(key), bitonal music is composed of two tonalities(keys) simultaneously.

Bitonality is such a unique method from the player’s point of view too.

When a player of piano plays the bitonal music piece, the pianist should perceive two different tonalities simultaneously. For example, if the melody and accompaniment consist of different tonalities, player’s both hands cover two tonalities at the same time. I think it’s very difficult but wonderful for the players.

In the following sound source, I play the melody and the accompaniment separately to understand how to make bitonal part. Would you like to listen to ” Mary Had a Little Lamb” with bitonal part?

Could you hear the melody in the key of C-major (C,D,E,G) and the accompaniment in E-major (E,F♯,G♯,B,D♯)?

There are several notes that melody and accompaniment share in most music. However, in this bitonal part, the only common note between the melody and accompaniment is “E”. Furthermore, some dissonances* that are usually not very popular are in it.

As a result, you would hear an arrangement of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” that you never heard of it before. Bitonal music is certainly unfamiliar to everyone, even so it can create a new sound in music.

For a player, it is an uncommon experience to be conscious of two tonalities simultaneously while playing a piece of music. I think bitonal music gives the player new skills.

I love bitonal music and playing it! I hope you will also like bitonal music.

Lastly, would you like to listen to ” Mary Had a Little Lamb” that the bitonal part is incorporated into the piece? Bitonality becomes more appealing when used in certain sections!

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

* Two kinds of dissonances D and D#, G and G#