Which cadence features the final chord in inversion and the tonic not in the highest voice?

Which cadence features the final chord in inversion and the tonic not in the highest voice?

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

Answer: (A)

Cadences signal closure by resolving from the dominant to the tonic with a sense of finality. A perfect authentic cadence has the strongest sense of closure: V moves to I with both chords in root position and the tonic in the highest voice. When any of those conditions isn’t met, the cadence loses that complete settle and is called imperfect authentic. If the final chord is in inversion and the tonic isn’t in the highest voice, you’re hearing an imperfect authentic cadence. For example, in a key like C major, a V–I motion where the tonic chord is in first inversion (I6) or where the soprano doesn’t land on C still creates a sense of ending, but it’s not as definitive as a perfect authentic cadence. This is distinct from a half cadence (ends on V) and from a deceptive cadence (moves to something other than I).

Cadences signal closure by resolving from the dominant to the tonic with a sense of finality. A perfect authentic cadence has the strongest sense of closure: V moves to I with both chords in root position and the tonic in the highest voice. When any of those conditions isn’t met, the cadence loses that complete settle and is called imperfect authentic. If the final chord is in inversion and the tonic isn’t in the highest voice, you’re hearing an imperfect authentic cadence. For example, in a key like C major, a V–I motion where the tonic chord is in first inversion (I6) or where the soprano doesn’t land on C still creates a sense of ending, but it’s not as definitive as a perfect authentic cadence. This is distinct from a half cadence (ends on V) and from a deceptive cadence (moves to something other than I).