Authentic cadences ...........................................................................
Authentic cadencesare the most obvious-sounding cadences and are there-
fore considered the strongest. In an authentic cadence, the harmonic goal of
the phrase is the 5 chord, (V or v, depending on whether the piece is in a
major or minor key). The cadence occurs when you move from that V/v
chord to a I/i chord, as shown in Figure 10-20.Plagal cadences .................................................................................
The harmonic goal of a plagal cadenceis ultimately the 4 (IV or iv) chord,
with cadence occurring when the 4 chord moves to the 1 chord. The progres-
sions IV-I, iv-i, iv-I, and IV-i are all possibilities. The plagal structure originated
with Medieval Church music, which was mostly vocal, and is therefore often
referred to as the Amen cadence. If you’re familiar with Gregorian chants at
all, or even many modern hymns, then you’ve heard the Amen cadence in
action. It usually happens (no surprise here) at the point where the chanters
sing the two-chord “A-men.”Despite the “amen” label, plagal cadences are usually used within a song
to end a phrase, and not at the very end of a song, because they’re not as
decisive-sounding as a perfect cadence (Figure 10-21).&
?
c
c
w
w
w
∑
w
w
w
∑
Figure 10-21:
Plagal
cadences
are not as
conclusive
as authentic
cadences.
&
?
c
c
w
w
w
∑
w
w
w
∑
Figure 10-20:
Authentic
cadences
are the most
common,
obvious-
sounding
ones.
Chapter 10: Composing with Chords 115