What is a cadence?
Playing the note B on the piano. What can you say about the note? (Probably not much!)
Now add a G and D in the right hand and a G in the bass, turning the lonely B into a G major chord.
Think about the effect that these extra notes have on each other. The other notes – G and D – have given the B a particular identity and context – being the ‘third’, or the middle note, in a G major triad.
Now play the B again, but transform it into E minor, B major, G sharp minor, E major... or indeed into an atonal cluster. When affected by each of these sets of notes, the B could become almost anything!
It is the effect of other notes on the B that gives it its particular meaning.
The relationship between notes might be consonant or dissonant. It might be part of a recognisable chord, or there may be notes we don’t expect in it. We might want a note to go somewhere, but the composer surprises us. These tensions are an important part of what makes music exciting.
Now play the G major chord again, and follow it with C major (a perfect cadence).
Think about how linking the two chords affects the meaning. Suddenly the G major chord’s ‘place’ is clear: it is the last step before we arrive ‘home’ at the end of a piece.
Play the perfect cadence a few times. What does this make you think of? (the end of a piece, or returning home).
The way in which these notes affect each other’s sound also has an effect on us, as the listeners.
A different first chord can affect the sound or implied meaning of the second in very different ways.
For instance, instead of starting on the chord of G, put an F major chord in front of the C major chord (a plagal cadence). This sounds final but not quite as final as the perfect cadence.
This cadence was typically found in church music for many centuries. As such it was often known as an ‘Amen’ cadence.
Play the G major chord again, but this time, follow it with A minor (an interrupted cadence). How has this affected the sound? Has the A minor chord somehow changed the G major chord?
Now play C major as the first chord. Imagine that this is the key of the whole piece. Now move on to chord V – G major (an imperfect cadence) – what effect does this have? It sounds unfinished, as if another chord needs to come afterwards.
In order to demonstrate the effect of an imperfect cadence properly you may like to play a phrase of music in C major ending with a cadence onto chord V. Note how the imperfect cadence sounds like the end of a section, but not the end of a whole piece. For example:
All these pairs of chords are called cadences. Cadences are chords that have a particular relationship with each other – that affect each other in a specific way.
Cadences are like musical punctuation. When we read, a question mark or an exclamation mark affects the ways in which we make sense of the sentence. It’s just the same with music: a cadence tells us something about the sense of the phrase.
We use Roman numerals to label these chords and cadences:
V–I: a Perfect Cadence. This cadence sounds finished, like a full stop/ period.
IV–I: a Plagal Cadence. ‘Amen’ or a pastoral sound.
V–VI: an Interrupted Cadence (also known as ‘deceptive’). Shock horror. Surprise.
I–V: an Imperfect Cadence. The opposite of perfect. Unfinished. Needs to go on.
Think of some well–known songs, and show them how changing a cadence or two can affect the character of the piece. For example:
In the activity below the cadences missing some notes (particularly bass lines). Can you write in the missing notes?
As a class, think of an appropriate cadence to set each of these phrases:
“Get OUT!”
“The End”
“A dance?”
“I’m off!”
“What’s THIS?”
“Let’s rest”
“I’m shocked!”
“My home”
You may need to try several cadences out on the piano before deciding what you think is the most appropriate one.
To help you choose, think carefully about the ways in which the notes in each cadence affect each other and the meaning that is suggested by each cadence as a result. What affect does each cadence have on them, as the listener?
Composition Task
● Compose a short piece with 4–6 cadences with appropriate words (from the list above or using words of their own).
● Write out the cadences on manuscript paper, and write the words underneath. Then type it into Note Flight.