The resolution gazette · interactive edition
Cadence Explorer
Stage two chords, inspect every voice’s travel, then conduct the moment that turns motion into punctuation.
Voice-leading call sheet
Soprano landing proof
The printed cadence decides the soprano.
Conduct with touch or mouse
Choose a key, mode, and cadence program. Drag the baton: the preparation sounds near the middle, and the arrival sounds after the double bar. The large cue performs both with concert timing.
Keyboard route
Tab reaches every control. Number keys 1–6 select cadence programs. Arrow keys move the focused baton and sound each crossed zone; Enter or Space activates a ticket.
Conventions and tips
V uses the raised leading tone in minor. “Perfect authentic” has root-position V–I and tonic in the soprano; the imperfect version lands on the third. The call sheet chooses compact, singable motion rather than strict four-part species rules. Compare the bass move with the soprano landing.
Landing and promise laboratory
Override the printed soprano to hear how the top note changes closure; a PAC crowned by the third or fifth becomes imperfect in effect. The promise test performs V7–I beside V7–vi (or V7–i beside V7–VI in minor).
With this, you can put two chords together and hear how they might resolve. To use the Cadence Explorer, use mouse and its controls to play around or use your computer’s keyboard to navigate it. It demonstrates what is happening harmonically in common cadential progressions including movement from preparation to arrival.
First select your key via the key selector to the left. Use buttons just below the key choice to toggle between major and minor mode. Once you have selected your key use the buttons directly underneath the key selection to toggle between major and minor versions of the same key. From here the widget will adjust the roman numeral analysis and chord accordingly. This prepares all cadence programs that you’ll be exploring.
How to Use the Cadence Explorer
In list of tickets on the left is a selection of cadences. Each ticket correspond to one harmonic move (e.g. These are examples like a perfect authentic cadence or a deceptive ending. Simply click on any ticket to hear it; the matching chords will then appear on main stage along with some details about how they move. Alternatively, pressing the number keys from 1-6 on your computer keyboard will take you more rapidly to the next cadence in the collection. The current program are highlighted for clarity at all times.
Two chord make up this progression: the one on the left is the preparation, and the one on the right is the arrival. Underneath these chords is a breakdown of the voice leading where it calls out each voice and how it travels from beginning to end. So, you can spot where there may be rough edges in soprano line and whether or not bass offers a firm grounding for the rest of the voices. It also shows which semitones each voice travel, allowing you to hear exactly what intervals are being covered.
At bottom of widget is conductor baton slider that controls the sound. Each chord position have its own audio zone that is triggered when baton is dragged across it. If you move slider gently then you will be able to hear the preparation and arrival independently. To play them both with right timing, simply click big cue button for a full performance. The hall resonance slider allows you to add more or less reverb to sound.
In lab section try out different soprano landings. You can either follow printed program or make the soprano land on the fifth, third, or even root of the arriving chord. Doing this varies feel and strength of cadence while keeping underlying harmony. Try promise test button which will show you how your ear hear an expectation fulfilled and how it compare to a deceptive cadence.
If you prefer to study the voice leading, use fullscreen button to make widget bigger on screen. There is also help panel that gives some extra context around musical conventions used in tool as well as keyboard shortcuts. This panel can be opened and closed with one click.
Make sure your volume is set comfortabley and you can hear clearly what each of voices is doing. Keyboard navigation allows you to move from option to option with ease; no need to reach for the mouse. You can choose a cadence by using number keys and move around controls using tab. If baton has focus then arrow keys will move the baton and allow you to fine tune how the audio play back. The space bar or enter key will activate any slider or other button that have focus.
All of this means you are free to explore harmony at your own speed. Switch from mode to key and try contrasting strength of each cadence. An imperfect cadence feels less final then the perfect authentic cadence. The deceptive cadence do not land in the tonic and stretches out the phrase. Look at voice-leading sheet to see if it is smooth between chords. Follow the movement specifically with alto and tenor voices. You can take as much time as you want to study.
It is a widget to explore and get instant feedback from your ears. It’s not right or wrong, just ways of hearing how theory sounds in action. Experiment with it until you’re happy that you know what each cadence does. Begin with the major keys first then move into the minor modes and listen for the differences.
When you wish to explore the world of harmonic motion this tool await you.