half cadence

theoryhaf KAY-dentsfrom English

A cadence that ends on the dominant chord (V), creating a feeling of incompleteness or expectation r‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌ather than resolution.

In Depth

The half cadence arrives on the dominant chord — typically from any preceding chord — and stops, leaving the listener in a state of harmonic suspension.‍‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‍‌‌‌ Because the dominant chord contains the leading tone (which "wants" to resolve upward to the tonic), ending on V creates a palpable sense of anticipation, like a question waiting for an answer. This makes the half cadence ideal for ending the first half of a musical phrase. In Classical-era music, half cadences commonly mark the midpoint of a period structure (the antecedent phrase ends with a half cadence; the consequent phrase answers with an authentic cadence). Mozart was a master of the perfectly placed half cadence, using it to create balanced, elegant phrase structures. The gesture is so fundamental to tonal music that even inexperienced listeners can feel its open, unresolved quality.

Did you know?

In 18th-century music theory, the half cadence was often compared to a comma or semicolon in prose — a pause that signals more is to come.

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In Depth

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