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For example, dissonant, atonal harmonies convey a sense of unrest.

“When people hear the word ‘microtonal,’ they think of the word ‘atonal.’

“The stars are kind of out there with weird time signatures and complicated harmonies. The allergens are really spacey. When the molecules themselves sing, wow, things get kind of atonal,” he says.

Amir ElSaffar has composed new music, an atonal jazz that Shepherd bangs out on keyboard when Pavel transitions into talky song.

He once played a piece for piano, violin and oboe for Milhaud that contained a melody he was ashamed to have written, as 12-point atonal music was in vogue at the time.