Dissonant Prelude for Organ in G minor

Updated MP3 for prelude.

At least I think it's atonal. There are infrequent tonal elements here and there. This piece is built around variations of a basic theme in 3/4 time, as well as frequent imitation. Phrases tend to be begin placed in tonal positions relative to G minor. I'd been intending to write a chromatic piece and it just kind of evolved on its own since I started it last night.

It's just kind of ironic that the fugue I wrote this prelude for is like almost the opposite of the prelude. The prelude is so chromatic it barely has any consistent elements of G minor, except phrase placement. The fugue is so tonal it barely has any chromatic elements at all.

Edit: Well, attempted to add a more convincing ending as well as better timing dynamics. Added a Sibelius 4 file, as well.

Bury-It-4.mid

Bury-It-5.sib

I really like the pacing of that tune, and it makes sense as a whole even if I don't always understand individual notes.

Tonality certainly breaks to the surface every now and then, eg. around 1:45-2:00.

I don't hear this piece as very atonal, but no worries, I definitely like it. I don't have too much to say on it right now other than that I liked it and I wish the ending was a little more obvious..it feels too arbitrary for me right now, maybe compounded by a lack of dynamic difference throughout the piece and no ritard at the end. Of course, I enjoy ritards a lot in general.

I see what you mean about the ending being arbitrary, so that's definitely something to revise. As for the tempo, I haven't done any timing dynamics yet but slowing down parts of it might not be a bad idea. The false endings would sound better with a gradual slowing, and a resumption of normal tempo when it doesn't end.

Thanks for the insight and for listening. I've given it a shot and think it turned out ok.

I don't hear this piece as very atonal

I either, this dont sounds atonal, sounds more disonant. But nice, hahaha, i love disonat songs. Why is not atonal??? because some times i listen a cadeza.

I either, this dont sounds atonal, sounds more disonant. But nice, hahaha, i love disonat songs. Why is not atonal??? because some times i listen a cadeza.

I was talking to SSC about this piece the other day, actually. He said this was not so much atonality (as defined by Schoenberg) as it is free tonality and extended harmony.

Basically you are right. I am striking elements of G minor and then striking the notes most dissonant to it. Some parts aren't really dissonant at all.

I was talking to SSC about this piece the other day, actually. He said this was not so much atonality (as defined by Schoenberg) as it is free tonality and extended harmony.

Basically you are right. I am striking elements of G minor and then striking the notes most dissonant to it. Some parts aren't really dissonant at all.

Nothing wrong with being neotonal instead of atonal! I think a lot of atonal pieces are really tonal anyway, even if they weren't conceptualized that way. I get the impression that even Schoenberg himself came to use twelve-tone as a kind of method for exploring unconventional tonalities rather than simply no tonality.

I like your revision, by the way.