Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 20 of 96

Cadences, or Full Closes — Authentic and Plagal

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§ 20. 1) The harmonic ending of musical ideas is called a cadence.

2) An ending on the tonic chord is called a full cadence.

3) Among full cadences we distinguish authentic cadences (dominant–tonic) and plagal cadences (subdominant–tonic).

A) Authentic cadences (V–I): perfect, perfect, imperfect, imperfect, imperfect — Fig. 81 · See it in the reader

B) Plagal cadences (IV–I): perfect, perfect, imperfect, imperfect, imperfect — Fig. 82 · See it in the reader

4) When the two closing chords are both in root position, the last chord has its root in the melodic position (in the soprano), and it falls on the strong beat of the bar, the cadence is perfect; if these conditions are not met, it becomes imperfect.