Cadences & Embellishing Tones

authentic cadence

• V - I harmony

• root position

perfect authentic cadence

V - I cadence that ends with “do” in the melody

• both harmonies must be in root position

imperfect authentic cadence

V - I cadence in which V or I harmonies are inverted, do is not in soprano over tonic triad

• used to evade a cadence

half cadence

phrase that ends on V

passing tone (PT)

step → step in same direction (can be up or down)

neighbor tone (NT)

step → step in opposite direction

appoggiaturas (APP)

leap → step in opposite direction (resolves down)

• happens on stronger beat

escape tones (ET)

step → leap to a chord tone (resolves down)

suspension (SUS)

static note (resolves down by a step)

retardation (RET)

static note (resolves up by a step)

pedal tones (PED)

static note in bass

anticipation (ANT)

N/A → static note