CADENCE (Med. Lat. cadentia, from cadere, to fall). The 'fall' or close of a musical phrase or period. The term may apply to a melodic as well as an harmonic ending, and does not neces sarily imply a 'fall' in pitch. In the most satis factory final cadence, called Perfect, the melody passes upward to the final chord, so the term merely implies a subsiding from motion to rest, partial or complete. The word cadence is so inseparably associated with harmunic effects that we usually consider it in its specific sense, as the group of chords which form the harmonic turning-point or ending of every phrase, section, period, or complete movement. Cadences may be said to be the punctuation marks of the lan guage of music. Some give the effect of finality —the full stop, or period. Others are merely pauses, like commas, and others, in their un certain, questioning effect, are like interrogation marks. A final cadence, to give perfect satis faction, must lease the tonality clearly defined by ending on the tonic chord: and its effect will be strengthened if the tonic tone is made espe cially prominent by appearing in the soprano as well as the bass. When the dominant or domi nant seventh chord precedes the tonic, the ca dence is called Authentic; where the subdomi nant chord precedes it, the cadence is Nagai.
When, in either of these forms, the two chords are in fundamental position (in chord), and the soprano passes upward to the tonic. the cadence is Perfect. With any other movement of the voices, it is Imperfect.
The names Authentic and Nagai were used in early ecclesiastical music; and the latter cadence. (dled also the Amen cadence, is rarely used ex cept in sacred music.
Directly opposed to the final character of the Authentic cadence is the HaIf-Cadence, called also the IlaIf-Close, which ends on the dominant chord. preceded by the tonic. This gives the effect of an incomplete or partial close, and may be compared to a semicolon. When the chord of the dominant is followed by any other chord except the tonic, the (:trect is that of avoiding or postponing the conclusion: and the cadence is called. variously. Avoided. Deceptive, or Inter rupted. This harmonic turning-point is simply a pause, like a comma. or in some eases like an interrogation point. Illustrations of the va rious cadences will be found in any text-book on harmony. Consult, also. (-low, The Structure of Music (New York, IS951.