Music: An Art and a Language

by Walter Raymond Spalding

	César Franck
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A reversal of this order produces what is called the half-cadence, akin to the semicolon, e.g.

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The union of the subdominant and tonic chords is known as the Plagal Cadence, e.g.,

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and always gives a feeling of religious dignity and impressiveness. Magnificent examples may be found in the closing measures of Wagner's Overture to the Mastersingers and of Brahms' First Symphony in C minor. In the final cadence of Debussy's humorous piece for pianoforte, Minstrels, the effect is burlesqued, e.g.

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