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Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.
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half cadence

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Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.
Cadences typically used in Western music from the 17th through the 21st century.

In music, a half cadence is a type of musical ending that concludes on the dominant harmony. This creates a sense of unresolved harmonic tension, implying that the musical phrase is incomplete and another phrase will likely follow, often ending with an authentic cadence.12

A cadence, in general, marks the end of a musical phrase, section, or movement. The term originates from the Latin word "cadere," meaning "to fall," and historically referred to a specific melodic descent. In tonal harmony, cadences are crucial for structuring music, similar to how rhymes structure poetry. Besides the half cadence, other common types include authentic, plagal, and deceptive cadences.2

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