Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov · section 24 of 96

On the Half Cadence — On the Phrase

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§ 24. A stop on the triad of the fifth degree is called a half cadence, or authentic half cadence (a).

A stop on the triad of the fourth degree is called a plagal half cadence (b).

Example: a) authentic half cadences ending on V (C major, then A minor twice); b) plagal half cadences ending on IV (C major; then A minor, where V precedes IV) — Fig. 88 · See it in the reader

A musical idea that ends with a full cadence or with a half cadence is called a musical phrase.

1) A half cadence is not placed at the end of a piece.

2) After a half cadence the next phrase may begin with the triad of the fourth degree or its first inversion; with the triad of the fifth degree or its first inversion; and finally, once they have been studied, with the chords of the second order.