half cadence

American  

noun

Music.

1. a cadence ending with dominant harmony.

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Example Sentences

As to the endgame — no spoilers here — the details are not predictable in themselves, but, to put it in musical terms, there’s a sort of half cadence followed by an authentic cadence followed by a plagal cadence.

From Los Angeles Times

That song ends in a half cadence, forever unresolved.

From New York Times

So not only did listeners have to put off hearing of the battle of Jephtha and the Israelites against the Ammonites, but the concluding chorus of Israelites also ended musically on a half cadence, the harmonic equivalent of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

From New York Times

The answering phrase, antithesis, is now quite different; and, in measure 48, is developed—with some new contrapuntal voices—to a half cadence in F minor.

From Project Gutenberg

The joints, too, of the structure were strengthened: the half cadence no longer sufficed to divide first from second subject, or, after development, to return to the principal theme; then, again, the wider scope of the development itself demanded more striking harmonies, more forcible figuration, and more varied cadences.

From Project Gutenberg