Cadential: Refers to cadences in music, which are sequences of chords that conclude a musical phrase, section, or piece, providing a sense of resolution.

Context and Significance

In music, the cadential sequence plays a vital role in signaling the end of a phrase or section, creating a sense of closure. Cadences are prevalent across various genres, including classical, jazz, and popular music. They are instrumental in shaping musical structure and emotional impact, often used by composers to evoke feelings of finality or expectation. Musicians, especially those playing harmonically rich instruments like the piano and guitar, rely on cadential progressions to guide transitions and articulate the end of musical phrases.

Historical Background

The concept of cadences originated in the Baroque era, when composers began formalizing harmonic structures. The term “cadential” derives from the Latin “cadere,” meaning “to fall,” reflecting the downward motion often found in cadential progressions. Cadences have evolved significantly over the centuries, from the simple perfect cadences of early Western music to the complex and varied forms found in contemporary compositions, reflecting changes in musical styles and theoretical understanding.

Examples

Cadential progressions are evident in countless musical works. In J.S. Bach’s chorales, cadential sequences are meticulously crafted to provide harmonic closure. Beethoven often employed cadential extensions to build anticipation before resolving a section, as seen in his symphonies. In jazz, musicians like Miles Davis utilize cadential progressions as a basis for improvisation, blending traditional harmonic resolution with innovative melodic interpretation.

Related Terms

Cadence: A sequence of chords that concludes a phrase.

Plagal Cadence: A cadence moving from the subdominant to the tonic.

Deceptive Cadence: A cadence where the expected resolution is delayed or altered.

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