Plagal cadence

File:Plagal cadence in C.png

File:Plagal cadence in C.mid Plagal cadence in C major.

In music theory, a plagal cadence is a type of harmonic cadence in which the subdominant chord moves directly to the tonic chord.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is also sometimes called the Amen cadence due to its prevalence at the ending of hymns, particularly those published between the mid-19th and mid-20th centuries.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="terry16">Template:Cite thesis</ref> The plagal cadence has been described of having a "sad" sound, as opposed to the authentic cadence's more "lively" resolution.<ref name="terry16" />

History

As early as the early 16th century, German music theorists described the plagal cadence as a Template:Lang (formal close)Template:Citation needed. 18th century music theorists including Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers, Charles Masson, and Jean-Philippe Rameau analyzed the cadence, calling it a Template:Lang (imperfect cadence) or Template:Lang (irregular cadence).<ref name="blainsvillesnewmode" /><ref name="terry16" /> Charles-Henri de Blainville coined the term plagal cadence in his Template:Lang.<ref name="blainsvillesnewmode">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Modern use

Plagal cadences are commonly used in rock music: the IV chord is the most common chord proceeding the tonic in rock music other than the tonic itself. Modern rock songs that utilize a plagal cadence include "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Hound Dog" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and "In My Life" by The Beatles.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The fourth and sixth scale degrees, which are used in the IV chord, are rarely treated as stable in rock music.<ref name="stephensonbook">Template:Cite book</ref>

Variations

Minor plagal cadence

File:Chord Fm.svg

File:Minor plagal cadence iv-I.midF minor chord (pictured) resolving to C.

A minor plagal cadence is a type of plagal cadence which uses a minor iv instead of the typical major IV before resolving to the I chord. The minor plagal cadence cadence was recognized as early as the 1670s, with Wolfgang Caspar Printz coining the term Template:Lang (dissected acquiescent perfect formal close) to describe the cadence.<ref name="blainsvillesnewmode" /> The minor plagal cadence appears in many popular songs, including "Space Oddity" by David Bowie, "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis, and "Crying" by Roy Orbison.

File:Minor major seventh chord on IV in C.png

File:Minor major 7th plagal cadence.mid F minor major seventh chord (pictured) resolving to C.

The minor-major seventh version of the iv chord is often used in major-key songs, such as "It's My Party" by Lesley Gore, "Magical Mystery Tour" by The Beatles, and "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey.<ref name="stephensonbook" />