Music Fundamentals A Balanced Approach

1. “Georgia on My Mind” (words by S. Gorrell, music by H. Carmichael)


2. “Cielito Lindo” (Q. Mendoza y Cortés)

Cadences: Authentic, Half, Plagal, Deceptive

Phrase endings, called cadences,are identified by the last two different kinds of chords that are used to
harmonize the final notes of a phrase. If we compare cadences in music to the punctuation marks that are used
in sentences, cadences may correspond to commas, periods, question marks, or exclamation marks. We will
study four cadences: the authentic, half, plagal, and deceptive cadence.

Authentic Cadence

When the last two chords of a phrase are V–I, the result is an authentic cadence.This gives a conclusive ending
to a phrase, much like a period marks the end of a sentence. The consequent phrase of a musical period
frequently ends with an authentic cadence. Listen to your instructor play the following authentic cadences.

391

FORM IN MUSIC

From the Sie – rra Mo – re –na, my pret-ty dar-ling, there came de- scend-ing – –

one shin-ing pair – of dark eyes, my pret-ty dar-ling, it – struck my heart.