Which statement best describes a perfect authentic cadence?

Which statement best describes a perfect authentic cadence?

• A. The roots of V and I are in the bass, and the tonic is the highest sounding note in the last chord.
• B. The progression moves from I to V.
• C. The cadence ends on the dominant.
• D. The final chord is in first inversion.

Answer: (A)

A perfect authentic cadence is the strongest closure in tonal music, built from a dominant (V) moving to the tonic (I) with both chords in root position and the tonic in the soprano. The statement you’re looking at captures exactly that: the bass lays out the roots of V and I, ensuring the chords themselves are in their fundamental positions, and the highest note in the last chord is the tonic, giving a clear, final sound. This combination—V to I, with root-position chords and the tonic in the top voice—produces the most conclusive cadence. The other descriptions miss at least one crucial element. Ending on the dominant would not provide finality. Going from I to V doesn’t deliver the strong sense of resolution. Final chords in first inversion break the root-position requirement, which disqualifies it from a perfect authentic cadence.

A perfect authentic cadence is the strongest closure in tonal music, built from a dominant (V) moving to the tonic (I) with both chords in root position and the tonic in the soprano. The statement you’re looking at captures exactly that: the bass lays out the roots of V and I, ensuring the chords themselves are in their fundamental positions, and the highest note in the last chord is the tonic, giving a clear, final sound. This combination—V to I, with root-position chords and the tonic in the top voice—produces the most conclusive cadence.

The other descriptions miss at least one crucial element. Ending on the dominant would not provide finality. Going from I to V doesn’t deliver the strong sense of resolution. Final chords in first inversion break the root-position requirement, which disqualifies it from a perfect authentic cadence.