AP Exams: Music Theory Unit 5, Harmony, Cadences, Authentic, PAC, IAC, Half, Plagal, Deceptive, Identifying and Writing

What Is This?

Cadences are specific musical progressions that create a sense of resolution or pause. They are crucial for understanding the structure and harmony of Western music. This topic appears in exams to test your ability to identify and write different types of cadences, which is fundamental for music analysis and composition.

Why It Matters

Cadences are tested in music theory exams, such as the AP Music Theory Exam, Royal Conservatory of Music exams, and university-level music theory courses. They frequently appear and can carry significant marks, testing your analytical and compositional skills.

Core Concepts

1. Authentic Cadences: End on the tonic (I) chord.
2. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC): V(7) to I.
3. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC): Any chord to I, but not V(7) to I.
4. Half Cadence (HC): Ends on the dominant (V) chord.
5. Plagal Cadence (PC): IV to I.
6. Deceptive Cadence (DC): V to vi (or any chord other than I).

Prerequisites

1. Understanding of Chord Progressions: Know basic chord structures and Roman numeral analysis.
2. Key Signatures and Scales: Be able to identify the tonic and dominant chords in any key.

The Rule-Book (How It Works)

Primary Rule

Cadences are defined by the chords that end a musical phrase.

Sub-Rules and Exceptions

• PAC: V(7) to I.
• IAC: Any chord to I, except V(7) to I.
• HC: Ends on V.
• PC: IV to I.
• DC: V to vi (or any chord other than I).

Visual Pattern

• PAC: V(7)-I
• IAC: Any-I
• HC:-V
• PC: IV-I
• DC: V-vi

Exam / Job / Audit Weighting

• Frequency: High
• Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
• Question Type: Identification, writing, and analysis of cadences.

Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Must-Know Rules, Formulas, Standards, or Principles

1. PAC: V(7) to I.
2. IAC: Any chord to I, but not V(7) to I.
3. HC: Ends on V.

Worked Examples (Step-by-Step)

Easy

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: V - I. Step-by-Step:
1. Identify the chords: V and I.
2. Check the progression: V to I. Answer: Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC). Rule Applied: V(7) to I.

Medium

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: ii - V - vi. Step-by-Step:
1. Identify the chords: ii, V, and vi.
2. Check the progression: V to vi. Answer: Deceptive Cadence (DC). Rule Applied: V to vi.

Hard

Question: Write a musical phrase in C major that ends with a Plagal Cadence. Step-by-Step:
1. Identify the chords for a Plagal Cadence: IV to I.
2. Write the progression: F major (IV) to C major (I). Answer: F major to C major. Rule Applied: IV to I.

Common Exam Traps & Mistakes

1. Mistake: Confusing PAC and IAC.
2. Wrong Answer: Identifying V to I as IAC.

3. Correct Approach: Remember PAC is specifically V(7) to I.

4. Mistake: Overlooking the dominant in HC.

5. Wrong Answer: Identifying V to I as HC.

6. Correct Approach: HC ends on V, not I.

7. Mistake: Misidentifying DC.

8. Wrong Answer: Identifying V to III as DC.
9. Correct Approach: DC is V to vi (or any chord other than I).

Shortcut Strategies & Exam Hacks

• Mnemonic for PAC: "V to I is Perfectly Authentic."
• Elimination Strategy: If it ends on V, it's HC. If it ends on I, check for PAC or IAC.
• Pattern Recognition: Look for IV to I for PC and V to vi for DC.

Question-Type Taxonomy

1. Identification: "Identify the cadence in the following progression."
2. Mini-Example: V - I.

3. Favored Exams: AP Music Theory.

4. Writing: "Write a phrase that ends with a specific cadence."

5. Mini-Example: End with a Plagal Cadence.

6. Favored Exams: Royal Conservatory of Music.

7. Analysis: "Analyze the cadence in a given musical excerpt."

8. Mini-Example: Analyze the cadence in a provided score.
9. Favored Exams: University-level music theory.

Practice Set (MCQs)

Question 1

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: V - vi. Options: A. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) B. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC) C. Half Cadence (HC) D. Deceptive Cadence (DC) Correct Answer: D. Deceptive Cadence (DC) Explanation: The progression V to vi is a Deceptive Cadence. Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A. PAC involves V to I, not vi. - B. IAC involves any chord to I, not vi. - C. HC ends on V, not vi.

Question 2

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: IV - I. Options: A. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) B. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC) C. Plagal Cadence (PC) D. Half Cadence (HC) Correct Answer: C. Plagal Cadence (PC) Explanation: The progression IV to I is a Plagal Cadence. Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A. PAC involves V to I. - B. IAC involves any chord to I, but not specifically IV to I. - D. HC ends on V, not I.

Question 3

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: ii - V. Options: A. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) B. Half Cadence (HC) C. Plagal Cadence (PC) D. Deceptive Cadence (DC) Correct Answer: B. Half Cadence (HC) Explanation: The progression ends on V, which is a Half Cadence. Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A. PAC involves V to I. - C. PC involves IV to I. - D. DC involves V to vi (or any chord other than I).

Question 4

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: iii - I. Options: A. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) B. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC) C. Half Cadence (HC) D. Plagal Cadence (PC) Correct Answer: B. Imperfect Authentic Cadence (IAC) Explanation: The progression iii to I is an Imperfect Authentic Cadence. Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A. PAC involves V to I. - C. HC ends on V. - D. PC involves IV to I.

Question 5

Question: Identify the cadence in the following progression: V - III. Options: A. Perfect Authentic Cadence (PAC) B. Deceptive Cadence (DC) C. Half Cadence (HC) D. Plagal Cadence (PC) Correct Answer: B. Deceptive Cadence (DC) Explanation: The progression V to III is a Deceptive Cadence. Why the Distractors Are Tempting: - A. PAC involves V to I. - C. HC ends on V. - D. PC involves IV to I.

30-Second Cheat Sheet

• PAC: V(7) to I.
• IAC: Any chord to I, but not V(7) to I.
• HC: Ends on V.
• PC: IV to I.
• DC: V to vi (or any chord other than I).
• Mnemonic for PAC: "V to I is Perfectly Authentic."
• Elimination Strategy: If it ends on V, it's HC. If it ends on I, check for PAC or IAC.

Learning Path

1. Beginner Foundation: Review chord progressions and Roman numeral analysis.
2. Core Rules: Memorize the definitions and progressions for each cadence.
3. Practice: Identify cadences in musical excerpts.
4. Timed Drills: Write phrases ending with specific cadences under time pressure.
5. Mock Tests: Take practice exams to solidify your understanding.

Related Topics

1. Chord Progressions: Understanding cadences requires knowledge of chord progressions.
2. Key Signatures: Identifying cadences involves knowing the tonic and dominant chords in any key.
3. Musical Form: Cadences are crucial for understanding the structure of musical pieces.