What is tonal harmony primarily concerned with?

Tonal harmony is fundamentally centered around the concept of a single tonic or tonal center, which serves as the home base for the music. This tonic is established through various scales and chords, providing a sense of resolution and direction within the composition. The framework of tonal harmony revolves around relationships between chords and the arrangements of notes that revolve around this central note.

In tonal music, the direction of the harmony is typically influenced by the movement towards and away from the tonic, creating tension and resolution that is essential in the structure of tonal compositions. Conversely, the other options represent concepts that deviate from the principle of tonal harmony. For instance, multiple tonal centers and harmonies independent of tonality denote more modern styles, such as atonality or polytonality, which do not adhere strictly to the principles of tonal music. Similarly, a variety of melodic lines without a central theme suggests a departure from the cohesive structure that tonal harmony provides. Therefore, the focus on a single tonic or tonal center is what defines and underpins the practices of tonal harmony.