Page 10 - Fables volume 1

How the Frog Orchestra Lost its Third Alto

repetition and sudden shifts in rhythm. Nevertheless, I continued to
listen and observe, wondering what bizarre principles could animate
such cacophony.”
He paused for dramatic effect, a wasted hiatus.
“Finally, I learned their secret. One day I saw two humans stop and
exchange places in the middle of a piece. Then they continued,
without it making any difference! You see, each one has a prearranged
part, which exists independently of the individual playing it.”
“That’s not news to me,” said Kodok Besar.
“But don’t you see the possibilities?” persisted Eatabugus. “We
could do the same thing; we’re smarter than they are, so we can learn
much more complicated parts. I have already composed several
symphonies based on their simple melodies. We could double or triple
every section and blow our competition out of the water!”
The old bull emitted a raucous roar. “Bah! That’s preposterous!
Don’t you know anything about our own traditions? Has no one told
you the truth about human music?”
“Uh, what do you mean, Your Supreme Wartiness?” said the youth,
racking his brain for honorifics and crouching even lower.
“You find fault with our music because it is spontaneous, and praise
the humans because theirs is programmed. Now, let me tell you why
things are as they are. We, the frogs, were the first to invent ensemble
music. Birds and bugs have copied us, but we perfected the art, long
before those bamboo-bangers crawled out of the jungle looking for
something to do with their thumbs.”
“And why,” Kodok went on portentously and pedantically, “is our
version superior? Because it has evolved naturally, over many
generations of frogkind. Each of us appears to produce notes at our
own discretion, according to whim, yet together we produce beautiful
sounds. You may call it accidental polyphony via collective
improvisation, but only by ignoring the selective process that lies
behind it. All that I, as leader, need do is tune the instrument of your
voices, tell you when to start and stop, and hire or fire those who
please or displease me.”
He crossed his enormous red eyeballs and brought them to bear on
Eatabugus, who cringed. But the bull continued.

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