the quality of two musical keys being played simultaneously
bitonality in American English
(ˌbaitouˈnælɪti)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
Music
the simultaneous occurrence of two tonalities in a composition
Word origin
[1925–30; bi-1 + tonality]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Nazi, chain reaction, payload, recycle, turnaroundbi- is a combining form meaning “twice,” “two,” used in the formation of compound words.Other words that use the affix bi- include: bilateral, bipolar, bisect, bivalent, bivalve
Examples of 'bitonality' in a sentence
bitonality
Esenvalds loves to send sopranos into orbit over deep harmonies enriched with added ninths or spiced with soft bitonality.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Even the fast numbers have a bitter bitonality, and the final one is a wordless requiem.