Cadence

Full Description

A cadence is a harmonic or melodic formula that signals the end of a phrase, section, or piece of music. The word comes from the Latin cadere, to fall, reflecting the sense of resolution or repose that a cadence provides. Cadences punctuate musical structure much as commas and full stops punctuate prose — some suggest a momentary pause, others a definitive conclusion. The four principal cadences in tonal music each carry a distinct degree of finality. A perfect authentic cadence (V to I, or dominant to tonic, both in root position) provides the strongest possible sense of closure — it is the musical equivalent of a full stop. An imperfect authentic cadence also moves to the tonic but arrives there from a different position or approaches it differently, creating a less conclusive landing. A plagal cadence (IV to I) is softer and more restful in character, traditionally associated with the Amen of liturgical music. A half cadence ends on the dominant chord, leaving the music harmonically unresolved and creating a sense of expectation — a musical comma rather than a full stop. The deceptive cadence (V to vi, or dominant to submediant) deliberately frustrates the expected resolution, substituting the relative minor for the tonic. Composers use it to extend phrases, defer closure, or introduce an element of surprise. Understanding cadences is essential for analysing how music is structured, how tension and release are managed, and how phrases relate to one another within a larger form.