What does "tonality" indicate in music?

Tonality in music refers to the system of organizing music around a central pitch, known as the tonic. This central pitch serves as the home base to which all other notes and chords relate. The concept of tonality is fundamental to Western music, as it provides a framework for melody and harmony, establishing a sense of resolution and direction in a piece.

In tonal music, melodies and harmonies are constructed in a way that they convey a feeling of tension and release, often leading back to the tonic note. Understanding tonality helps musicians and composers create coherent musical ideas and allows listeners to recognize the overall structure of a piece.

Focusing on the other options, the complexity of the musical score involves different aspects of arrangement and orchestration, unrelated to tonality itself. The diversity of instruments involved plays a role in timbre and texture rather than tonality. The tempo, relating to the speed of the music, also does not pertain to the tonal center around which the music is organized. Thus, the correct understanding of tonality truly lies in its role as the central pitch that underpins the harmonic structure of a musical work.