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9.3.2: Imperfect Authentic Cadence

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    258519
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    Composition of an Imperfect Authentic CadenceImperfect authentic cadence

    If a cadence contains the leading tone of the key in the first chord (or if it is a melody, it implies this chord) and the second chord is a tonic chord, but it does not follow the very specific rules of the perfect authentic cadence, it is considered an imperfect authentic cadence. In short, in order to be perfect, it has to follow certain guidelines. Anything that is even slightly different than those specific guidelines is going to be imperfect.

    • V is the first chord
    • I is the second chord
    • No requirements for note placement or inversion

    The Sound of the IAC

    The imperfect authentic cadence still has a final sound due to the progression being dominant-tonic, but we will hear other elements that are imperfect. We may hear mi in the top voice of the second chord. We may hear an inversion and have something other than the root of either chord as the lowest note.

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    This page titled 9.3.2: Imperfect Authentic Cadence is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lauren C. Sharkey.

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