Kadenz

Kadenz, in music theory, is a harmonic progression or moment that signals the end of a phrase, section, or, in some cases, a whole passage. In tonal music, cadences establish and confirm the home key and provide musical punctuation, shaping the sense of closure or pause.

Common cadences include:

- Perfect or authentic cadence (V–I or V7–I): a strong closing gesture that firmly establishes the tonic.

- Half cadence (V): ends on the dominant, creating a pause without final closure.

- Plagal cadence (IV–I): a softer, more expansive finish often described as an Amen cadence.

- Deceptive cadence (V–vi in major, or V–VI in minor): resolves unexpectedly to the submediant, delaying final closure.

- Cadential six-four (I6/4–V–I): a cadential formula where the I6/4 fingering functions harmonically as a dissonant preparation for V, resolving to I.

Function and use:

Cadences organize phrases and sections, signal formal boundaries, and guide listeners toward or away from tonal center conclusions. They depend on voice-leading, rhythm, and harmonic rhythm, and may be elaborated with extensions or neighboring chords in various styles.

Historical and stylistic notes:

Cadences are central to Western tonal music from the Baroque through the Romantic era and remain a foundational concept in analysis. While the basic ideas persist, different periods and genres experiment with cadence frequency, length, and expressive goals. The term Kadenz is the German equivalent of the English term cadence, and it is widely used in German-language music theory literature.