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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:

(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:

HISTORY

cadenzen in organum 1 1 OMO

 

3 stemmige cadenzen 14e eeuw OMO

Landini

Landini cadens 1

Landini cadens 2

 

3 stemmige cadenzen 15e eeuw OMO

Palestrina

Palestrina cadens 2  en 4 stemmig

Johann Gottfried Walther

clausula formalis perfectissima 

in a "stripped" version:

clausula formalis perfectissima (stripped)