Harmonic Pitch
Music: Edexcel GCSE, topic 1.1.3
Cadences
It is really important that you understand what cadences are and that you are able to spot them in music by listening to the different effect that each one has.
Cadences
- Cadences are essentially the two chords which end a musical phrase (a bit like a musical ‘sentence’).
- There are three main ways in which you can end a phrase:
- Make it sound finished.
- Make sound unfinished.
- Make it sound unexpected.
Finished ending
- If it sounds finished then there are two options:
- Perfect cadence.
- Plagal cadence.
Perfect cadence
- Perfect cadence (chords V - I, e.g. G - C).
- This is the most common of all cadences and has a really strong sense of a phrase sounding like the end of a piece.
- We would use a perfect cadence in the final phrase of a piece.
Plagal cadence
- Plagal cadence (chords IV - I, e.g. F - C).
- Again this would make the phrase sound like the piece had ended, but a slightly smoother effect.
- It is used at the end of many hymn tunes and can be remembered as it sounds like the words A-MEN are being sung!
Imperfect cadence
- If it sounds unfinished then it is an:
- Imperfect cadence (usually chords I or IV - V, e.g. C or F - G).
- An imperfect cadence sounds like the piece of music has not yet finished and wants to carry on.
- You would use an imperfect cadence for a phrase in the middle of a piece of music.
Interrupted cadence
- If it sounds unexpected then it is an:
- Interrupted cadence (usually chords V - VI, e.g. G to Am).
- The interrupted cadence is used to add an unexpected twist to the end of a phrase.
- This is because (when in a major key) it finishes on a minor chord (in the example given - chord VI/A Minor).
Test yourself on Harmonic Pitch
What type of cadence sounds unfinished?