What is the twelve tone technique?

The twelve-tone technique, developed by composer Arnold Schoenberg in the early 20th century, is a method of musical composition that uses all twelve notes of the chromatic scale in a specific sequence, or "tone row." Each note is given equal importance, eliminating traditional tonal hierarchies and allowing for atonality. Composers create variations of the tone row through techniques such as inversion, retrograde, and transposition, resulting in a structured yet innovative approach to music. This technique significantly influenced modern Classical Music and paved the way for later avant-garde movements.