Cadences

A cadence is a point of rest at the end of a phrase, section or complete piece of music. A cadence is like a musical punctuation. It is often used to imply whats happening next.

Types of cadences


Perfect (V-I) Plagal (IV-I) Imperfect (I-V or II-V or IV-V or VI-V) Interrupted (V-VI)

Perfect Cadence


Dominant triad followed by tonic triad (V-I). Sounds very final. Like a full-stop.

Plagal Cadence


Subdominant Triad followed by Tonic Triad (IV-I). Sounds quiet final. Sounds like amen in a church hymn. Like a semicolon.

Imperfect Cadence


Anything to a dominant triad (?-V). Sounds incomplete. Chord V feels like it wants to move to the tonic chord. Like a question mark.

Interrupted Cadence


Dominant triad followed by submediant triad (V-VI). Sounds unexpected. Like an interruption.

Perfect Cadence (V-I)Four Part Vocal Style

    

Bass sings the root note. Leading note in V rises to tonic in chord I. Common notes in same voice. Remainder note rises a step (2nd). E flat major (V- Bb D F Bb to I-Eb G Bb Eb)

Plagal Cadence (IV-I)Four Part Vocal Style

   

Bass sings root note. Common notes in same voice. Remainder two voices move DOWN a step (2nd). E flat major (IV-Ab C Eb Ab to I-Eb G Bb Eb)

Perfect Cadence in C major

Plagal Cadence in C major

Perfect Cadence in A minor

Plagal Cadence in A minor

Homework


Master Your Theory Grade 3 Dulcie Holland. Complete lessons 9-10. Master Your Theory Grade 4 Dulcie Holland. Complete lessons 1-6.

Grade 4 Theory of Music

    

I-V reverse of a perfect cadence II-V outer parts move in contrary motion IV-V bass rises a step and all other parts fall by a step VI-V two parts rise and two parts fall (Double 3rd in chord VI) V-VI (Interrupted Cadence) Bass rises a step, leading note rises to tonic in the same voice and other two parts fall. (Double 3rd in chord VI)

Imperfect Cadence F major I-V

Imperfect Cadence Db major II-V

Imperfect Cadence C minor IV-V

Imperfect Cadence G minor VI-V

Interrupted Cadence Eb major V-VI (Double 3 in VI)

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Interrupted Cadence F# minor V-VI (Double 3 in VI)

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