Songs in 5

[swan_tower]

I need recs for INSTRUMENTAL music (no lyrics, or at least not in English) written in some form of quintuple meter: 5/4, 5/8, something more arcane, whatever. Songs which are only partially in such a meter are acceptable, though, y'know, not some complicated jazzy thing where it's like a measure here and three measures there and so forth; I'd like it to be recognizably quintuple without following along on the score to see where it changes.

Comments

[daidoji_gisei]

Memory claims that Mars, from Holst's suite The Planets, is in 5/4.

[davidgoldfarb]

Part of it is. Part of it isn't. Both parts are going at the same time, a clash of rhythms as a metaphor for clash or armies.

[sovay]

Songs which are only partially in such a meter are acceptable, though, y'know, not some complicated jazzy thing where it's like a measure here and three measures there and so forth; I'd like it to be recognizably quintuple without following along on the score to see where it changes.

"Take Five" remains a classic: it is jazz, but it's 5/4 all the way through. Other examples coming to mind all involve lyrics, but I'll return if I think of any that don't. [edit] I am not sure that the "Theme from Mission: Impossible" is what you're looking for, but it is in the right time signature.

[starlady]

"The Treason of Isengard" on the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack is 5/4.

[shadowsong26]

Hello, there! I was sent here by bookblather. There's two I can think of--the second movement of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique symphony. Sometimes described as a drunken/limping waltz; and the third movement of Chopin piano sonata #1 (in c minor). I'm less familiar with the Chopin, so I'm not 100% sure how obvious it is, but he didn't do a lot with changing meter IIRC.

Hope this helps!

[eldriwolf]

I am Not a music person, but some Balkin folk has *complex* meters...?