Yr 10 Phrases and Cadences

Musical Phrases and Cadences

What is A Phrase?

A Phrase Is A Complete Musical​ Thought

Most definitions include the idea that a phrase is a "complete musical thought." In fact, the phrase is the shortest complete musical thought, as a motif or figure (which are both shorter) are too short to be considered a "complete thought."

What is A Phrase?

A Phrase Ends with a Cadence

Most theorists and dictionaries agree that phrases end with a cadence. A cadence is a harmonic progression (sequence of chords) that suggests a temporary repose or resolution. (Similar to a coma or full stop in a sentence.)

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What is A Phrase?

A Phrase Has a Contour and Climax

A phrase has a rising and/or falling ​contour in the sequence of pitches that constitute it. Of course, there are exceptions, but this is largely true. ​Additionally, a phrase has a climax. Understanding where the climax is is critical for interpreting a piece at a high level. The climax may be an expressive harmony, a dissonance, a longer note, or a high (or sometimes low) note.

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What is A Phrase?

A Phrase Can't Be Defined By Its Length

It’s also important to understand what a phrase is not. Some theorists define phrases by their length since there is so much music in which the typical phrase is 2 or 4 measures long – especially in hymns, folk music, and much “early” classical music. Still, defining a musical phrase by its length would be like trying to define an English phrase by the number of words in it. It’s not a foolproof way of doing so.

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Multiple Select

What is a musical phrase?

• A musical sentence

• A musical pattern

• A complete musical thought

• A musical dynamic

Multiple Choice

What is at the end of a phrase?

• An articulation

• A slur

• A cadence

• A motif

Multiple Choice

There are 2 bars in each phrase.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is a way to make phrases effective and expressive?

• Dynamics

• Articulations

• Slurs

• Cadences

Multiple Choice

How many bars are there in one phrase here?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Listen to this musical example, which of the following cadences is used repeatedly in the extract?

• Perfect

• Imperfect

• Plagal

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

Listen to this musical example, name the three cadences in this extract. The first is at 0'12, the second is at 0'20 and the last one is at 0'28.

• Plagal, perfect, plagal

• Imperfect, Plagal, Perfect

• Perfect, imperfect, perfect

• Perfect, perfect, perfect

Multiple Choice

How many chords does a cadence consist of?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

The tonic is notated by a...

• I

• IV

• V

• VI

Multiple Choice

The dominant is notated by a...

• I

• IV

• V

• VI

Multiple Choice

The subdominant is notated by a...

• I

• IV

• V

• VI

Multiple Choice

A perfect cadence is the movement between which two chords?

• V-I

• I-V

• V-vi

Multiple Choice

Which of the following cadences is NOT an imperfect cadence?

• I-V

• II-V

• I-IV

Multiple Choice

Who am I?
I am a cadence.
I consist of chords IV-I.
I sound finished.

• perfect cadence

• plagal cadence

• imperfect cadence

• interrupted cadence

Multiple Choice

Who am I?
I am a cadence.
I consist of chords V-VI.
I sound unfinished.
In a major key, my last chord is minor.

• perfect cadence

• plagal cadence

• imperfect cadence

• interrupted cadence

Multiple Choice

Identify the cadence featured in this example

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence is this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence is this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted

Multiple Choice

The cadence in this example is a/an

• Perfect

• Plagal

• Imperfect

• Interrupted