plagal

[ pley-guhl ]

adjective

, Music.

1. (of a Gregorian mode) having the final in the middle of the compass. Compare authentic ( def 6a ).

plagal

/ ˈpleɪɡəl /

adjective

1. (of a cadence) progressing from the subdominant to the tonic chord, as in the Amen of a hymn
2. (of a mode) commencing upon the dominant of an authentic mode, but sharing the same final as the authentic mode. Plagal modes are designated by the prefix Hypo- before the name of their authentic counterparts

   the Hypodorian mode

Word History and Origins

Origin of plagal¹

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin plagālis, equivalent to plag ( a ) plagal mode (apparently back formation from plagius plagal; plage ) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of plagal¹

C16: from Medieval Latin plagālis, from plaga, perhaps from Greek plagos side

Example Sentences

As to the endgame — no spoilers here — the details are not predictable in themselves, but, to put it in musical terms, there’s a sort of half cadence followed by an authentic cadence followed by a plagal cadence.

From Los Angeles Times

OR may have same meaning as plagal cadence.

From Literature

Half close — Same as plagal cadence.

From Literature

You can listen to a few simple cadences here: Perfect Cadence53 , Plagal Cadence54 , Half-cadence55 , Deceptive Cadence56 .

From Literature

Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the octave below the tonic.

From Project Gutenberg