stängningstakt

Stängningstakt (closing cadence) is a concept in music theory used in Swedish analytical literature to describe the harmonic and rhythmic closure that marks the end of a phrase, a period, or a musical section. The term emphasizes the act of “closing” the tonal space and providing a sense of finality rather than merely reaching a higher pitch.

In tonal music, the most common realization of stängningstakt is an authentic cadence, typically V–I in major keys or V–i in minor keys. This basic pattern may be preceded by predominant progressions and often involves careful voice-leading to ensure a stable arrival on the tonic. Less final closures may use a plagal cadence (IV–I) or other extended cadences that still convey a sense of completion, depending on style and period.

Stängningstakt functions as syntactic punctuation in music: it marks the end of a musical sentence, helps define phrasing in vocal lines, and often aligns with the cadence pattern present in the score. The exact character of the stängningstakt—whether firm or delicate, abrupt or elongated—depends on harmonic context, tempo, and stylistic conventions of the period.

Historical usage: The concept appears in analyses of Western tonal music from the Baroque through the Romantic era and continues to be used in pedagogical contexts to describe how composers achieve closure within a musical unit.

See also: cadence, authentic cadence, plagal cadence, harmony, musical phrases.