PANDIATONIC Meaning and
Definition
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Pandiatonic is an adjective used in music theory to describe a harmonization technique or style that employs the use of all seven diatonic pitches within a key, without emphasizing any particular tonal center or functional harmony. The term "pandiatonic" is derived from the Greek words "pan," meaning "all," and "diatonikos," meaning "of the diatonic scale."
In pandiatonic writing, all pitches of a scale, typically of a major or minor key, are used freely, disregarding the traditional tonal hierarchy or leading tones. This allows for a more open, consonant, and less hierarchical sound compared to more traditional harmonic approaches.
Pandiatonicism often results in sonorities that are consonant and chords that consist primarily of triads or seventh chords built on each of the seven pitches of the diatonic scale. This technique is frequently associated with composers who sought to break away from the strict tonal conventions of the common practice period, such as early 20th-century composers like Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky.
By employing pandiatonicism, composers can achieve a more ambiguous or open-ended tonality, blurring the distinction between major and minor keys. This technique also allows for the creation of rich, colorful harmonic textures without the need for strong melodic or harmonic resolutions. Overall, pandiatonicism offers a divergent approach to harmony that fosters exploration and experimentation within a tonal framework.
Etymology of PANDIATONIC
The word "pandiatonic" is derived from the combination of two Greek roots: "pan" meaning "all" or "every", and "diatonikós" meaning "relating to tones or keys". When these roots are combined, the term "pandiatonic" is formed, which refers to a musical system or style that uses all the tones of a given scale or key.
