Which cadence ends on a note other than the tonic?

Which cadence ends on a note other than the tonic?

• A. Imperfect Authentic Cadence
• B. Deceptive Cadence
• C. Half Cadence
• D. Perfect Authentic Cadence

Answer: (A)

Cadences signal how a musical phrase comes to a close. When a cadence lands on the tonic, it feels final and resolved. Authentic cadences aim for that tonic goal, with the strongest form ending on I in both the harmony and often with the final melodic pitch on the tonic; an imperfect authentic cadence still centers on the tonic, even if the voice-leading isn’t perfectly clean. If the final moment sits on a note other than the tonic, you’re hearing a cadence that doesn’t settle the tonal center. A half cadence ends on the dominant, creating a sense of pause or expectation rather than closure. A deceptive cadence typically moves to VI, which also leaves the tonic behind. So, to end on a non-tonic note, the most straightforward example is a half cadence (ending on V). An imperfect authentic cadence, in contrast, resolves to the tonic, so it wouldn’t satisfy ending on a non-tonic pitch.

Cadences signal how a musical phrase comes to a close. When a cadence lands on the tonic, it feels final and resolved. Authentic cadences aim for that tonic goal, with the strongest form ending on I in both the harmony and often with the final melodic pitch on the tonic; an imperfect authentic cadence still centers on the tonic, even if the voice-leading isn’t perfectly clean.

If the final moment sits on a note other than the tonic, you’re hearing a cadence that doesn’t settle the tonal center. A half cadence ends on the dominant, creating a sense of pause or expectation rather than closure. A deceptive cadence typically moves to VI, which also leaves the tonic behind.

So, to end on a non-tonic note, the most straightforward example is a half cadence (ending on V). An imperfect authentic cadence, in contrast, resolves to the tonic, so it wouldn’t satisfy ending on a non-tonic pitch.