originated in Western music in the Renaissance era.

Illustration

What makes this a Picardy cadence is shown by the red natural sign. Instead of the expected B-flat (which would make the chord minor) the accidental gives us a B natural, making the chord major.

Listen to the final four measures of "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" with and without Picardy third (harmony by R. Vaughan Williams).

History

Name

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