Western – European

 

Tonal – within a particular major or minor tonality

 

Art Music

• One of the fine arts - the expression of human emotions through a combination of melody, rhythm, and harmony enclosed in a structurally complete form. 

• Each composition, once created, is secured for multiple performances through precise music notation.

• The pinnacle achievements of every composer, style, and period get utilized for further development in a constant process of advancement. 

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   The ever-present quest for still finer ways of expression affected all elements of music, though mainly harmony. Increasing harmonic complexity called for amendments to existing canons; new solutions got sanctioned by new norms.  Still, all rules, as well as any other principles of art music, whether observed in a written composition of a predecessor or defined in a theoretical treatise, were to serve one objective only – the utmost beauty. 

   In nearly a thousand years, harmony advanced from primitive polyphonic patterns of the XI century to highly chromaticized tonalities at the threshold of the XX century.  In the process, the connection with any particular tonal center gradually weakened and, eventually, got severed completely.  Consequently, the further development of tonal art music came to a halt.  Nonetheless, the accumulated opuses proved to be one of the greatest treasures of Western civilization.

   In the present day, the immense legacy of WTAM provides a platform for countless artistic exaltations to the delight of music lovers in nearly every culture of the world. 

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Preservation of this music in its pure form is the main focus of MN-SAM.