Authentic Cadence

The Authentic Cadence is a widely used cadence, common practically to the point of ubiquity, and describes a V - I chord progression that resolves a musical phrase or piece. Optionally, the V chord can be a V7, and/or be preceded by a IV chord.

A list of examples would be very nearly useless - virtually every composition in the Western musical tradition contains this cadence in abundance, right until the point where atonality challenged the entire chord system wholesale. However, there are some interesting patterns to observe; for instance, the first symphony by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1909) uses the V - I progression freely, but in his other eight symphonies there is barely a single clear-cut instance in over six hours of music.