Music · Lesson 6

Cadences, SATB part-writing, six-four chords, non-harmonic notes, modulation

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: JAMB Music Section B 2–6 (SATB progressions, kinds of motion, cadences perfect/imperfect/plagal/interrupted, passing and neighbouring notes, modulation to dominant and subdominant). WAEC/NECO Theory 1(B)(b)–(e): cadences in major and minor (perfect, plagal, interrupted, imperfect I–V, ii–V, iii–V, IV–V); harmonising with primary and secondary triads; cadential and passing 6/4; passing (accented…

WAEC: JAMB Music Section B 2–6 (SATB progressions, kinds of motion, cadences perfect/imperfect/plagal/interrupted, passing and neighbouring notes, modulation to dominant and subdominant). WAEC/NECO Theory 1(B)(b)–(e): cadences in major and minor (perfect, plagal, interrupted, imperfect I–V, ii–V, iii–V, IV–V); harmonising with primary and secondary triads; cadential and passing 6/4; passing (accented…

NECO: JAMB Music Section B 2–6 (SATB progressions, kinds of motion, cadences perfect/imperfect/plagal/interrupted, passing and neighbouring notes, modulation to dominant and subdominant). WAEC/NECO Theory 1(B)(b)–(e): cadences in major and minor (perfect, plagal, interrupted, imperfect I–V, ii–V, iii–V, IV–V); harmonising with primary and secondary triads; cadential and passing 6/4; passing (accented…

What you will learn

Identify and write perfect, plagal, imperfect and interrupted cadences in major and minor keys.
Recognise cadences by ear.
Name and use the four kinds of motion.
Apply the main rules of four-part writing.
Use cadential and passing 6/4 chords.
Identify passing, auxiliary and anticipation notes.
Recognise modulations to closely related keys.
Harmonise a short melody in four parts.

Key points

Cadence = two chords ending a phrase.
Perfect V–I; plagal IV–I; imperfect ending on V; interrupted V–vi.
Finished: perfect, plagal; unfinished: imperfect, interrupted.
Minor keys: raised leading note in V.
Leading note rises; 7ths fall.
In V–vi, double the third of vi.
Avoid consecutive 5ths and octaves; use contrary motion.
Keep common notes; move by step.
Cadential 6/4: Ic–V, strong beat, dominant bass doubled.
Passing, auxiliary and anticipation notes.
Dominant modulation: sharpened 4th; subdominant: flattened 7th.
Harmonise: cadences first, then bass, then inner parts, then check.

Start here: Cadences: musical punctuation

A sentence needs commas and full stops; music needs cadences. A cadence is the progression of (usually) two chords at the end of a phrase, which gives a sense of pause or ending. Just as “I am going to the market,” feels incomplete and “I am going to the market.” feels finished, some cadences sound like a comma and others like a full stop.

Four cadences are examined by WAEC (in both major and minor keys, and by ear in a major key in Paper 3A test (e)) and by JAMB (in major keys up to two sharps or flats):

Cadence	Chords	Other names	Effect
Perfect	V–I (or V7–I)	full close, authentic	finished, a full stop
Plagal	IV–I	Amen cadence	finished, gentle
Imperfect	I–V, ii–V, IV–V, iii–V (any chord to V)	half close, semi-cadence	unfinished, a comma
Interrupted	V–vi	deceptive, evaded, surprise	a surprise; the ending is postponed

A helpful sorting rule: cadences that end on I (perfect, plagal) sound finished; cadences that end on V (imperfect) or on vi (interrupted) sound unfinished. Two clues identify every cadence: the last chord and the chord before it.

In practice, cadences usually fall on a strong beat at the end of a two- or four-bar phrase. In a hymn, look at the end of each line of the words: you will often find an imperfect cadence at the end of line 2 and a perfect cadence at the end of line 4, the musical version of a question and its answer.

Worked example: Cadences in a hymn tune. A hymn in F major has four lines. The chords at the ends of the lines are: line 1 I–V; line 2 V–vi; line 3 ii–V; line 4 V–I. Name the cadences.
Solution. Line 1: imperfect (ends on V). Line 2: interrupted (V–vi). Line 3: imperfect (ii–V). Line 4: perfect (V–I). Notice how only the final line has a full close; the others keep the music moving.

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Practice questions

1. A perfect cadence is

V–I
IV–I
I–V
V–vi

Show answer

A: V–I
The strongest close.

2. A plagal cadence is

V–I
ii–V
V–vi
IV–I

Show answer

D: IV–I
The “Amen” cadence.

3. An imperfect cadence ends on

chord IV
chord vi
chord V
chord I

Show answer

C: chord V
e.g. I–V, ii–V, IV–V.

4. An interrupted cadence is usually

V–I
V–vi
IV–I
I–V

Show answer

B: V–vi
Expected I is replaced, usually by vi.

5. Which cadence sounds final?

perfect
imperfect
interrupted
half

Show answer

A: perfect
V–I ends a piece.

Key words

Cadence: Two-chord progression ending a phrase.
Perfect cadence: V–I; full close.
Plagal cadence: IV–I; Amen cadence.
Imperfect cadence: Ending on V; half close.
Interrupted cadence: V–vi; deceptive cadence.
Phrygian cadence: ivb–V in a minor key.
Consecutive 5ths: Two parts moving in parallel perfect 5ths (forbidden).
Contrary motion: Parts moving in opposite directions.
Oblique motion: One part holds while another moves.
Cadential 6/4: Ic–V over a repeated dominant bass.
Passing note: Step between two chord notes.
Auxiliary note: Step away and back to the same chord note.

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