Jumping to Conclusions: The Falling-Third Cadences in Chant, Polyphony, and Recitative

Richard Hudson presents the first comprehensive history of this special melodic cadence and examines its usage from the beginnings of Western music to the present time. The work identifies the falling-third figures as a significant element of style in polyphony from the late 14th century to the early 16th. Hudson includes new sources not previously cited on the subject, as well as new interpretations of previously cited authors. He presents new ideas concerning the falling-third cadences by well-known composers such as J. S. Bach, Telemann, Haydn, Rossini and Mozart, and provides solutions to performance problems in recitative.