In most cases music has a beginning and an end.

Just like stories beginning with: "Long, long ago, in a far and distant country..." and ending with "And they lived happily ever after."

Closure or ending in music are comparable with language. We formulate sentences which can end in different ways, or create an opening.

Examples:

• "Thank you for your attention. Good beye"
• "This was the six 'o clock news. Have a nice evening."
• "What would you like to drink?"
• "Was everything to your liking?"
• "Excuse me..."
• "Excuse me".
• "EXCUSE ME?!"

(Temporary) endings in music are often accomplished with closing formulas or cadences, which differ according to place, time and style.

The term cadence is (for us) strongly connected with harmony and tonality. Most national or regional anthems end with it:

• Wilhelmus
• God save the Queen
• Frysk bloed tsjoch op
• Grönnens laid
• and many others

HISTORY

Landini

Palestrina

Johann Gottfried Walther

in a "stripped" version: