From my music training, I knew that, some Spanish rhythms apart, 5/4 is a time signature used only in the modern era. Holst's Mars from the Planets is 5/4. But if you speak lines of poetry in that pattern you just end up hitting the off-beats. It's only when you add a rest - a sixth beat - that it sounds as it surely should sound.

Summary

This quote suggests that the time signature 5/4, an uncommon choice in traditional music, is used in the modern era. The speaker references Holst's Mars from the Planets as an example. However, when reciting lines of poetry in a 5/4 pattern, the emphasis falls on the weaker beats. The speaker concludes that to create the intended sound, a rest (a sixth beat) must be added. This highlights the importance of rhythm and structure in music, allowing for a more balanced and compelling composition.

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