Which trend contributed to the breakdown of traditional tonality in late 19th and early 20th century music?

• A. Heightened Chromatacism
• B. Polytonality
• C. Atonality
• D. Serialism

Answer: (A)

Heightened chromaticism widens the harmonic language beyond the traditional major/minor scale, using more chromatic notes, altered chords, and voice-leading that doesn’t follow standard functional progression. This pushes the sense of a stable key center further away, creating tonal ambiguity and undermining the traditional V–I pull. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, composers expanded chromatic language—enhancing chromaticism in harmony and cadence ideas—setting the stage for styles that move beyond a single key. While later trends like polytonality, atonality, and serialism are also part of the broader shift away from traditional tonality, they arise from that initial move toward a richer, more chromatic palette. So the trend that most directly contributed to breaking traditional tonality is the rise of heightened chromaticism.