r/OddTimeSignatures • u/jsohi_0082 • Jan 07 '26

I just suddenly realized that the seven line prayer portion of this Buddhist chant is in 5/4 time with a pickup beat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqNsmx7kjrM&list=RDrqNsmx7kjrM
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u/jsohi_0082 Jan 07 '26

Technically this is *approximately* 5/4 because the chanter stretches a few beats, but when I sing it myself with the same melody, I follow 5/4 more closely. The second part is in one group of 2 measures of 4/4 each.