cadence

1. A stylized close in music which divides the music into periods or brings it to a full conclusion. They include:

 

• authentic cadence (also perfect authentic cadence, final cadence, full cadence, full close cadence)

• plagal cadence (also amen cadence, church cadence)

• deceptive cadence (also interrupted cadence)

• half cadence (also half close cadence, imperfect cadence)

• phrygian cadence.

 

Also [English] cadence; [German] Kadenz (f); [German] Schluss (f); [Italian] cadenza (f); [Spanish] cadencia (f).

 

2. A 17th and 18th century French term for a shake or trill. 

 

3. Generally, the beat of any rhythmic activity. In marching, a cadence is used to keep a marching unit synchronized and stepping on the same foot. The cadence can be performed through verbal commands with non-musical military units and typically include a call and response form of song or, with musical units, through a drum cadence. Some marching bands and other marching units such as a Drum and Bugle Corps typically employ very complex drum cadences with choreographed movements.