Questions tagged [cadence]

A melodic and/or harmonic configuration at the end of a phrase, section, or piece of music.

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The function of Gm G♭ B♭ chord progression in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond"

Over the Christmas break I heard this programme on BBC radio: Shine On You Crazy Diamond David Gilmour discusses his famous four-note motif B♭ F G E but what wasn't discussed and I wished had been was the first three chords of the song, which…
Brian THOMAS
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Why does Bach sometimes end with flat 7ths?

I've been studying the Bach inventions, and I see a common patterns in the first 3 inventions: They tend to include the flat 7ths in the very end. Examples: C major: D major: E♭ major: From a music theoretical standpoint, it's confusing, but…
Karamell
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Do different modes have the same cadence structure?

In major and minor keys, the perfect cadence is V to I Will this structure remain the same in a different mode? I.e. E Phrygian Mode in the key of C (E F G A B C D), the tonic chord is the iii of the key of C major. So, the scale would be iii IV V…
LittleFunny
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Is the sense of resolution of a harmonic cadence psychologically "intrinsic", or is it created through conditioning?

If we took someone who had never heard western music before and played a piece of music with, say, a deceptive cadence and a perfect cadence in it, would they understand it? I.e., would they feel that the piece is not quite over when they hear the…
axelotl
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Understanding the concept of a "Cadence"

According to the Wikipedia article on Cadences, they create "a sense of resolution [finality or pause]." This got me wondering about a more modern and pop context, where simple chord progressions tend to be repeated; sometimes, the end and start of…
user21600
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When was the deceptive cadence introduced?

Bach used the Deceptive Cadence as early as his Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582, which dates to the early 18th century. Are there earlier uses? A definitive answer may be impossible, but I am interested in how far back its usage can be…
Rein Henrichs
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Why aren't unusual leading tone cadences more common?

As far as I understand, the main reason why an authentic cadence (i.e. V–I) works well and is so common, is that the dominant chord contains the leading tone, which resolves very strongly to the tonic. It also has a common tone shared with the tonic…
DangerPete
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When to use inversions in harmonizing a bass line

What exactly is the procedure for harmonizing a bass line? In my class, the teacher introduced inversions of chords, which are not hard to understand per se, but I can't wrap my head around how can I use them when harmonizing a bass line. If I have…
nash
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cadence naming confusion

Checking out cadences for a student, I thought that 'perfect' was the U.K. version of the U.S. 'authentic'. Then went on to find 'perfect authentic' cadence. It seemed like tautology, but it appears to be to do with the voicing. Does this become an…
Tim
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Cadences for Modes

For each of the modes, is there a certain chord that goes before the targeted I or i chord? For instance, it seems in the Phrygian mode that II to i is a quite strong progression. In Ionian, obviously V to I is the strongest type of progression. I…
02fentym
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Ic-V-I perfect cadence progression SATB part writing rules

I am studying Music at AS-level - we have to harmonise a soprano line (in any style we wish I believe) with the alto, tenor and bass parts. One possible perfect cadence I have been taught is the Ic-V-I progression. However I found the following…
8128
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What do multiple l's and r's beneath a note mean?

I do a tad of drumming, but not enough at all to call myself a drummer (or anything close). I understand what a R or a L means under a note, but i'm not sure what two or three under each note means. I found this in a passage of snare cadences for…
American Luke
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How do I analyze this altered dominant chord?

In the key of C, what type of cadence and Roman numeral analysis would G B D# to C E G be? It's in John Thompson, "Hop O' My Thumb" measures 3 and 4.
user12136
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Does a phrase ending in V7/V - V end in an authentic cadence or a half cadence?

Does a phrase ending in V7/V - V end in an authentic cadence or a half cadence?
user19377
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In a minor key can a cadence on the relative major be considered a type of quasi half cadence?

My question is not: what is the textbook definition of a half cadence? What I am trying to get at is the perception of an incomplete, sort of antecedent phrase ending. When playing the following hymn I heard the harmony and phrasing as marked...…
Michael Curtis
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