MUTH132
Mr. Lubben
Fall 2001
Notes on Phrase Structure
Phrase: a complete musical thought involving tonal motion toward a cadence.
Cadence: a melodic/harmonic/rhythmic formula that serves as the goal of a phrase.
Conclusive cadence: a cadence ending with the tonic triad. The choice of melodic pitch, penultimate chord, and the metric placement of the tonic triad are three among many factors that determine the relative strength of a conclusive cadence. The conclusive cadences are the authentic (V-I) and plagal (IV-I).
Inconclusive cadence: a cadence ending with a chord other than the tonic triad. The inconclusive cadences are the half ( -V) and the deceptive (V-vi, or, more generally, V followed by some chord other than the expected I).
Period: a group of two or more phrases that stand in an antecedent-consequent relationship to one another; the period terminates in an authentic cadence.
Parallel period: a two-phrase period in which the consequent phrase begins as a literal or varied repetition of the antecedent; in other words, it gives the impression of "re-beginning." Typical cadential situations include: HC - PAC (or less often, IAC); IAC - PAC.
Sequential period: a two-phrase period that resembles the parallel period in that the beginning of the consequent phrase resembles the beginning of the antecedent; however, in a sequential period, the melody of the antecedent begins on a different scale degree, often supported with a different harmony. The most common cadential pattern is HC - PAC.
Contrasting period: a two-phrase period in which the consequent phrase does not sound like it is re-beginning the antecedent, nor does it give the impression of a sequence. Rather, it sounds like either a continuation of, or a contrasting response to, the musical idea presented by the antecedent. The common cadential patterns are HC - PAC and IAC - PAC.
Double period: a period in which the antecedent and consequent consist of two phrases each. The first phrase of the consequent is typically the same as or a slight variation upon the first phrase of the antecedent; thus, double periods are typically parallel. The most common cadential patterns are: (IAC - HC) + (IAC - PAC), (HC - HC) + (HC - PAC), and (PAC - HC) + (PAC - PAC).
Phrase group: a group of two or more phrases that terminates in a HC. These phrases do not form a period because they do not lead to an authentic cadence; the group is harmonically open. The phrases may be thematically similar or dissimilar.
Sentence: one of the most common structures of the Classical period. In a sentence, a basic musical idea is stated, restated (sometimes varied or transposed), then followed by a continuation or contrast. The components of the sentence are often in a 1:1:2 ratio.