Cadences

Definition

Cadences are melodic or harmonic configurations that signal the end of a musical phrase or section. They serve as crucial structural elements in music, guiding the listener's expectations and providing a sense of resolution or pause. In the context of functional harmony, cadences help establish the tonal framework by reinforcing harmonic relationships and directing the flow of music from one chord to another.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. There are several types of cadences, including perfect authentic, imperfect authentic, plagal, half, and deceptive cadences, each serving different functions within music.
2. A perfect authentic cadence typically involves a V-I progression that creates a strong sense of closure, making it one of the most conclusive types.
3. Cadences can be used to create contrast within a piece by alternating between strong cadential resolutions and weaker ones to maintain listener interest.
4. In Baroque music, composers often used cadences not only for closure but also to create dramatic pauses that enhance the overall expressive quality of their works.
5. Understanding cadences is essential for analyzing musical form, as they indicate where phrases begin and end, providing insight into the structural design of compositions.

Review Questions

• How do cadences function within the framework of functional harmony?
  • Cadences play a key role in functional harmony by signaling the end of phrases and reinforcing the relationships between chords. They help establish tension and resolution, guiding listeners through the tonal landscape. For example, a perfect authentic cadence creates a strong return to the tonic after building tension with the dominant chord, thereby clarifying the piece's harmonic structure.
• Discuss the different types of cadences and their specific roles in shaping musical phrases.
  • Different types of cadences include perfect authentic cadences that provide strong closure, imperfect authentic cadences that offer a less conclusive end, plagal cadences that often evoke a sense of finality in hymns, half cadences that leave phrases open-ended, and deceptive cadences that surprise listeners by moving away from expected resolutions. Each type serves its unique purpose in shaping phrases, creating varied emotional impacts and contributing to overall musical structure.
• Evaluate how composers in the Baroque period utilized cadences to enhance musical expression and form.
  • In the Baroque period, composers skillfully employed cadences to manipulate musical form and emotional expression. By incorporating various types of cadences, they created moments of suspense and release that enhanced dramatic effect. Composers like J.S. Bach often used cadential techniques to define sections within larger works, allowing for intricate structures while maintaining clarity. This approach not only showcased their compositional skill but also engaged listeners on an emotional level, demonstrating how effective cadences are as expressive tools.

Related terms

Tonic: The tonic is the first note of a scale and serves as the home base or central pitch around which a piece of music is organized.

Dominant: The dominant is the fifth scale degree and plays a vital role in establishing tension that resolves back to the tonic, especially in cadences.

Harmonic Progression: A harmonic progression is a sequence of chords that creates movement and structure in music, often leading to cadences that signal closure.