#AP Music Theory: Cadences - Your Ultimate Guide 🎶

Hey there, future music maestro! Let's nail these cadences. Think of them as musical punctuation—they tell us where a phrase is going. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the exam. Let's make sure you feel confident and ready!

#1. Cadence Basics

• Resolution: Feeling of completion or arrival.
• Closure: Sense of finality.
• Partial Closure: Creates suspense or anticipation.

#Types of Cadences

Here's a quick overview of the cadences we'll cover:

• Authentic Cadences
  • Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC)
  • Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC)
• Plagal Cadence (PC)
• Half Cadence (HC)
  • Phrygian Half Cadence (PHC)
• Deceptive Cadence (DC)

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which cadence provides the strongest sense of resolution? a) Half Cadence b) Imperfect Authentic Cadence c) Perfect Authentic Cadence d) Deceptive Cadence

2. A cadence ending on the dominant chord (V) is called a: a) Plagal Cadence b) Half Cadence c) Deceptive Cadence d) Perfect Authentic Cadence

Short Answer Question

3. Briefly explain the difference between a perfect authentic cadence and an imperfect authentic cadence.

#2. Authentic Cadences

Authentic cadences involve a dominant function chord (V or vii°) resolving to the tonic (I). They provide a strong sense of resolution and finality. This is a super high-yield topic, so make sure you've got it down!

#2.1. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC)

Criteria for a PAC:

1. Dominant Chord: Must be a V chord (not vii°).
2. Root Position: Both V and I chords must be in root position.
3. Soprano Ending: The soprano voice must end on the tonic.
4. Stepwise Motion: The soprano voice must move by step to the tonic.

• Example: In C major, a G major chord (V) in root position moving to a C major chord (I) in root position, with the soprano moving from B to C.

#2.2. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC)

Characteristics of an IAC:

• Does not meet all the criteria of a PAC.
• Common variations include:
  • V or vii° in root position to I, but soprano doesn't end...