Picardy third
A major chord used at the final cadence of a piece otherwise in a minor key
In Depth
The Picardy third (tierce de Picardie) replaces the expected minor tonic with a major tonic at the very end of a composition. The raised third creates a brightening effect, like sunlight breaking through clouds. The practice was standard in Renaissance and Baroque music, where ending on a minor chord was considered incomplete. By the Classical period it became optional, and Romantic composers used it as a deliberate expressive choice. The origin of the name Picardy remains uncertain.
No one knows why it is called Picardy — the connection to the region in northern France has never been satisfactorily explained.