as occur in some canons and fugues. But to learn to playa piano while
hanging from a tree must be very difficult. You must have to devote a
great deal of energy to it.
Sloth: That's not so characteristic of sloths.
Achilles: No, I gather sloths like to take life very easy. They do everything
about half as fast as normal. And upside down, to boot. What a
peculiar way to go through life! Speaking of things that are both
upside- and slowed-down, there's a "Canon per augmentationem,
contra rio motu" in the Musical Offering. In my edition, the letters
'S', 'A', 'T' are in front of the three staves. I don't know why. Anyway, I
think Bach carried it off very skillfully. What's your opinion, Mr. T?
Tortoise: He outdid himself. As for those letters "SAT", you could guess
what they stand for.
Achilles: "Soprano", "Alto", and "Tenor", I suppose. Three-part pieces
are often written for that combination of voices. Wouldn't you agree,
Mr. Sloth?
Sloth: They stand for-
Achilles: Oh,just a moment, Mr. Sloth. Mr. Tortoise-why are you putting
on your coat? You're not leaving, are you? We were just going to fix a
snack to eat. You look very tired. How do you feel?
Tortoise: Out of gas. So long! (Trudges wearily out the door.)
Achilles: The poor fellow-he certainly looked exhausted. He was jogging
all morning. He's in training for another race with me.
Sloth: He did himself in.
Achilles: Yes, but in vain. Maybe he could beat a Sloth ... but me? Never!
Now-weren't you about to tell me what those letters "SAT" stand for?
Sloth: As for those letters "SAT", you could never guess what they stand
for.
Achilles: Well, if they don't stand for what I thought, then my curiosity is
piqued. Perhaps I'll think a little more about it. Say, how do you cook
French fries?
Sloth: In oil.
Achilles: Oh, yes-I remember. I'll cut up this potato into strips an inch or
two in length.
Sloth: So short?
Achilles: All right, already, I'll cut four-inch strips. Oh, boy, are these
going to be good French fries! Too bad Mr. T won't be here to share
them.FIGURE 133. "Sloth Canon" ,from the Musical Offering, by J. S. Bach. [Music printed
by Donald Byrd's program "SMUT'.]
Sloth Canon^683