Lezione di Armonia #5 | Le Cadenze

Davide Nicodemi Composer

18 Feb 202114:05

Summary

TLDRThis video explores harmonic cadences, sequences of two chords that indicate how chords relate within a key. It discusses two main types: resolving cadences that conclude harmony and non-resolving cadences that create tension. Examples include the perfect cadence, plagal cadence, suspended cadence, deceptive cadence, and the lesser-known 'cadence of the hidden plagal.' The video also references the use of these cadences in famous pieces like Strauss's 'Also sprach Zarathustra,' highlighting their role in creating musical tension and resolution.

Takeaways

🎵 The video discusses the study of harmonic progressions and how they connect chords within a tonality.
🔄 Harmonic cadences are sequences of two chords that indicate how chords are related to each other.
🌟 Cadences can be found in both major and minor tonalities and can be transposed between them.
🏁 Harmonic cadences are divided into two main categories: resolving cadences and non-resolving cadences.
🏁 Resolving cadences lead to a conclusion or a state of rest in the harmony.
🏁 Non-resolving cadences create tension and the expectation of further movement in the music.
🎶 The perfect cadence is introduced as a resolving cadence that effectively leads from tension to resolution.
🎶 The plagal cadence is similar to the perfect cadence but lacks the perfect fifth, offering a different resolution.
🔄 Suspended cadence is a non-resolving cadence that ends with the dominant chord, creating a sense of suspension.
🔄 The deceptive cadence moves from the fifth to the fifth of a new tonality, often creating a sense of surprise or redirection.
🎶 The interrupted cadence is a non-resolving cadence that ends with a chord that is not the final resolution, often used for enigmatic endings.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed in the video script is the study of harmonic cadences in music, specifically focusing on how chords are connected and related within a tonality.
What are cadences in music?
-Cadences are sequences of two chords that indicate how chords are connected to each other within a tonality, providing a sense of resolution or tension in the music.
How are cadences categorized in the script?
-Cadences are categorized into two main types: resolving cadences, which bring the harmony to a conclusion or a state of rest, and non-resolving cadences, which create a sense of tension and expectation for further musical movement.
What is a perfect cadence in music?
-A perfect cadence is a type of resolving cadence that moves from the fifth degree to the first degree in a major key, effectively signaling the arrival of the tonic and providing a clear resolution.
What is a plagal cadence and how does it function?
-A plagal cadence is similar to a perfect cadence but moves from the fourth degree to the first degree. It lacks the leading tone, which makes it less effective in resolution but allows for two resolutions with two different chords leading to the tonic.
What is a suspended cadence and why is it used?
-A suspended cadence is a non-resolving cadence that ends with the fifth degree, creating a sense of suspension or tension. It is often used to lead into a dominant chord, setting up a sense of expectation for resolution.
What is an avoided cadence and how does it differ from other cadences?
-An avoided cadence is a type of non-resolving cadence that moves from the fifth to the fifth of a new key, often creating a sense of surprise or redirection in the music. It differs from other cadences by not leading to a clear resolution.
What is the deceptive cadence and how does it function?
-The deceptive cadence is a non-resolving cadence that leads to the sixth degree instead of the expected first degree, creating a sense of deception or enigma. It can be used to end a musical piece on a more ambiguous note.
What is the 'cadenza quanto minore' and why is it significant?
-The 'cadenza quanto minore' or 'Phrygian cadence' is a type of cadence that involves a minor chord progression, often used in liturgical organ music. It is significant because it provides a unique resolution that is different from typical major key cadences.
How does the script use the concept of 'cadenza perfetta' in the context of 'Also sprach Zarathustra' by Richard Strauss?
-The script uses the concept of 'cadenza perfetta' or 'perfect cadence' to describe the harmonic movement in 'Also sprach Zarathustra'. The piece begins with an ambiguous tonality and uses perfect cadences to clearly establish the tonality of C major, creating a sense of resolution.
What is the role of the preparatory chord in cadences as discussed in the script?
-The preparatory chord is used to set up or prepare for the cadence, often providing a complementary harmony that leads into the main cadence. It is a common technique in music composition to create a smooth transition into the cadence.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introduction to Harmonic Progressions

This paragraph introduces the concept of harmonic progressions, specifically focusing on cadences. Cadences are sequences of two chords that indicate how chords are connected within a tonality. The speaker discusses both major and minor tonalities and mentions that many cadences can be transposed to the minor key. Cadences are divided into two main categories: resolutive (leading to a conclusion or rest) and non-resolutive (leading to tension and further movement). The paragraph also introduces the perfect cadence and plagal cadence, explaining their structure and function in music.

05:01

🎶 Exploring Non-Resolutive Cadences

This paragraph delves into non-resolutive cadences, starting with the suspended cadence, which ends on the dominant chord, creating a sense of suspension. The speaker also covers the avoided cadence, which moves from the fifth to the fifth of a new key, and the deceptive cadence, which has a more resolutive character but is still considered non-resolutive. The paragraph provides examples of these cadences played on the piano and discusses their use in creating tension and incomplete resolution in music.

10:02

🎼 Analyzing Cadences in 'Also Sprach Zarathustra'

In this paragraph, the speaker analyzes the use of cadences in Richard Strauss's 'Also Sprach Zarathustra,' a piece famously used in Stanley Kubrick's film '2001: A Space Odyssey.' The music starts with an ambiguous tonality, creating a sense of uncertainty between major and minor keys. The composer uses resolutive cadences to describe the harmonic movement, such as moving from the first to the fourth chord. The paragraph also discusses the use of a hidden plagal cadence and how it extends the harmonic tension. The piece concludes with an extended perfect cadence, resolving the tension and providing a clear tonal resolution.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Harmony

Harmony in music refers to the combination of different pitches to create a pleasing and organized sound. In the video, harmony is the central theme, as the discussion revolves around how chords and their progressions contribute to the overall musical structure. The script mentions 'armonia' (Italian for harmony) as a key concept in understanding the relationships between chords.

💡Chords

Chords are groups of notes played together, forming the harmonic foundation of music. The script discusses chords as the building blocks of harmony, particularly focusing on how they are connected and resolved in different ways through cadences.

💡Cadences

Cadences are sequences of two chords that indicate how they are related within a tonality. They serve as transitions that can either lead to a resolution or create tension. The video script delves into different types of cadences, such as perfect cadences and plagal cadences, and their roles in concluding or continuing musical phrases.

💡Tonality

Tonality is the organization of music based on a central note or key. The script discusses major and minor tonalities and how cadences can be transposed between them. Tonality is crucial in understanding the harmonic relationships and resolutions in music.

💡Perfect Cadence

A perfect cadence is a type of cadence that concludes a musical phrase by moving from the dominant chord (fifth degree) to the tonic chord (first degree). The script describes it as being 'perfect' because it effectively brings about a sense of resolution and rest in the music.

💡Plagal Cadence

A plagal cadence is similar to a perfect cadence but moves from the fourth chord to the first chord. The script mentions that while it lacks the strong resolution of a perfect cadence, it allows for two resolutions with two different chords, adding variety to the harmonic progression.

💡Non-Resolving Cadences

Non-resolving cadences, as discussed in the script, are those that do not lead to a clear resolution or rest. They create tension and a sense of continuation in the music, prompting further movement. Examples given include the suspended cadence and the deceptive cadence.

💡Suspended Cadence

A suspended cadence ends with the dominant chord, creating a sense of suspension or pause. The script explains that it typically leads to a continuation rather than a resolution, as it does not provide a clear sense of completion.

💡Deceptive Cadence

A deceptive cadence is a type of non-resolving cadence that moves from the fifth degree to the fifth of a new tonality, rather than resolving to the tonic. The script uses this term to describe a cadence that leads to a new tonality, creating a sense of surprise or redirection in the music.

💡Authentic Cadence

An authentic cadence, as mentioned in the script, is one that has a strong sense of resolution, typically involving a clear and expected harmonic progression. It is contrasted with non-authentic cadences, which may leave the listener feeling that the music has not fully resolved.

💡Musical Ambiguity

Musical ambiguity refers to a lack of clarity in the tonality or harmonic direction of a piece. The script discusses how composers use certain cadences to create an ambiguous tonal situation, as seen in the example of 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' by Richard Strauss, where the music starts with an unclear tonality between major and minor.

Highlights

Introduction to the study of harmonic cadences and their role in connecting chords within a tonality.

Explanation of cadences as sequences of two chords indicating their relationship.

Mention of cadences being applicable in both major and minor tonalities.

Division of cadences into two main categories: resolutive and non-resolutive.

Description of resolutive cadences that lead to a conclusion or a state of rest in harmony.

Discussion on non-resolutive cadences that create tension and expectation for further musical movement.

Introduction of the perfect cadence as a resolutive cadence from the fifth to the first degree.

Explanation of the plagal cadence, which also moves from the fourth to the first degree.

Introduction of the suspended cadence, which ends with the dominant chord creating a sense of suspension.

Description of the deceptive cadence, which moves from the fifth to the fifth of a new tonality.

Introduction of the deceptive cadence, characterized by its enigmatic resolution.

Discussion of the minor cadence, also known as the hidden minor cadence.

Explanation of the use of cadences in organistic liturgical music, particularly in concluding psalms.

Mention of the anticipation of cadences by preparatory chords.

Analysis of the use of resolutive cadences in the famous piece 'Also sprach Zarathustra' by Richard Strauss.

Discussion on the ambiguity created by the initial chords in 'Also sprach Zarathustra', hinting at both major and minor tonalities.

Explanation of the harmonic movement in 'Also sprach Zarathustra' using the discussed cadences.

Final resolution in 'Also sprach Zarathustra' achieved through an extended perfect cadence.