plagal cadence

plagal cadence (plural plagal cadences)

1. (music) A falling cadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic; especially used in an ending Amen.

   Synonym: amen cadence

   • 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 230:

     A fellow could rely on Market Street only so far, and then even that began to get discouraging, plagal cadences on parlor pianos, bright lights, and mirrors to the contrary notwithstanding.

• deceptive cadence