The simultaneous use of two different keys or tonal centers in a musical composition. This technique creates harmonic tension and color by layering conflicting tonalities.
From bi- 'two' and tonality, meaning 'two-key-ness.' The term emerged in the early 20th century as composers like Stravinsky and Milhaud experimented with multiple simultaneous key centers.
Bitonality is like musical double vision - Stravinsky's Petrushka brilliantly uses C major and F# major simultaneously to represent the puppet's tragic duality between his wooden exterior and human emotions, creating one of music's most psychologically complex sound worlds!
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