Chapter 5 Notes - by Jesse

Cadences and Nonharmonic Tones

     Phrase - part of a piece of music that ends in a cadence

     Harmonic Cadence - closes a phrase.  can be compared to punctuation.  some are like a period (PAC), some are like a coma (HC), and some are like a semicolon (IAC/HC).   

     PAC - Perfect Authentic Cadence - V to I in major keys, and V to i in minor keys.  Both chords must be in root position.  The I or i chord must have the tonic as the highest note.  This is the strongest cadence.

     IAC - Imperfect Authentic Cadence - weaker than PAC.  Same as PAC unless one of the following applies.

              1. The highest note in the I or i chord is not tonic.

              2. The vii dim. is used instead of the V chord.

              3. Either of the chords are inverted.

     HC - Half Cadence - If the second chord in a cadence is a V chord, then it is a half cadence.  If you go from iv to V in a minor key, then it is called a Phrygian Cadence.

     PC - Plagal Cadence - progression from IV to I in major or iv to i in minor, or rarely ii 6 to I.    

     DC - Deceptive Cadence - If the first chord is a V chord and the second chord is not I, it is a deceptive cadence.  Most commonly V or v to VI or vi.

Nonharmonic Tones - harmonic tones are notes that are part of the chord.   Notes that are played along with the chord but aren't chord tones are nonharmonic tones.  These are usually dissonant and make an interval of 2, 4, or 7.  Diminished or augmented intervals are also considered dissonant.  The interval formed by a nonharmonic tone is calculated against the lowest tone of the chord with the exception of nonharmonic tones that happen in the lowest voice.

     PT - Passing Tone - Is aproached and left by step moving in one direction.  It can be accented or unaccented.

     NT - Neighboring Tone - Is approached and left by step moving either up and then down or down and then up.  It can br accented or unaccented.

     ET - Escape Tone - Is approached by step upward and left by skip downward.  It happens in the soprano line only, and must be unaccented.

     APP - Appoggiatura - Is approached by skip and left by step in the opposite direction.  It is generally accented.

     SUS - Suspension - Hold over a pitch and resolve downward.  The suspended pitch will be dissonant.  It is always accented.

     RE - Retardation - Similar to suspension, but resolves upward.  Usually happens in the soprano line.  It is always accented.

     ANT - Anticipation - Moving to the next chord tone early.  It is always unaccented.  Usually in the soprano line.

     PD - Pedal Tone - A held or repeated note, usually in the lowest voice, that alternates between consonance with the chord structures above it.  If it occurs above other voices, it is called an inverted pedal tone.

     CT - Changing Tone - Two successive nonharmonic tones.  Step to first nonharmonic tone and skip to second.  Both are usually unaccented.

Students Receiving Participation Credit: (credit period is now closed)

Jesse