"I want to annihilate tonality," Liszt told Vincent d'Indy and others in 1873. Liszt's compositions, which seemed to deny consonance, traditional tonality, and conventional forms, were considered highly radical by his contemporaries. Bagatelle sans tonalité (Bagatelle without Tonality) is the first piece in music history to explicitly declare itself "without tonality." It is a work from Liszt's late period, composed in 1885.

Published in 1956, it has recently gained high recognition and is frequently performed. Originally conceived as a waltz alongside Mephisto Waltz No. 4, this piece is sometimes also referred to as Mephisto Waltz No. 4 (Atonal). With no established central pitch, its tonality remains elusive.

At the beginning of the piece, the tritone (augmented fourth) from B to F, known as the "devil's interval," can be observed.

Furthermore, augmented fourth and diminished seventh chords are frequently employed, imbuing the piece with an ambiguous atmosphere.