5/4

There are songs that have a strange rhythm one can count as 1-2-3-1-2. It feels like a constant alternation between 3/4 and 2/4 with breakbeats. Instead it's a time all of its own called 5/4: each measure consists of 5 fourth notes, and the end result feels like singing breakbeats. I'm not so good with rhythms pushing against the easy flow of things. They're great to listen to, but they're such a pain in the ass to sing. These songs require a constant vigilance and you can't loose count. "1-2-3-4-5," I go, but instead I turn the song into a 4/4, which takes all the charm away.

The song is Le Colibri* by Chausson. Every long note takes me two, three, four, sometimes even five or six beats further, but the length seems randomly chosen. Where I usually float on the accompaniment, this song plays tricks on the singer. Sometimes you start earlier, sometimes together or later than the piano. 5/4 feels like a constant change of time throughout one piece of music.

But I'm willing to give up my resentment. 5/4 makes music more complex and lets some cool rhythms be born. nhw has a nice sample of well-known songs and music in 5/4 time.

*Link to YouTube video where Le Colibri is sung by a soprano whose pronunciation of the French language isn't all that.