ATDTDA (15): Cakewalking, 419-420

[Paul Nightingale]

An indication of passing time with: "One evening early in their first spring
semester" (419), and news that Alonzo is (a) a student here and (b) missing.
At the beginning of the section the reference to Trespassers provided
continuity from Miles' account of Mr Ace (417); and now we find that this
narrative will include Alonzo, whose absence 'inspires' the subsequent
musical number (as a kind of not-Alonzo). Relaxation ("taking a break from
studying", 419) is replaced by "[u]proar" (420), and the Chums' integration
is confirmed (they "by now understood ..."). At the beginning of this
passage (419) the Inconvenience crew are named one by one, for the first
time in this section (throughout, the text most frequently refers to "the
boys"); subsequently any such individuality is lost. Before the reference to
Alonzo triggers the musical outbreak, an unnamed student ("one of the
Third-Year Harpmen") offers a moment of dissent; an unnamed "classmate"
responds. The exchange might or might not be routine; such bickering might
or might not signify genuine discontent/rivalry; and the latter student's
"illicit cigarette" might be another source of conflict. A large number of
people in a confined space, getting on each other's nerves? Cf. Lew's gift
(54), or the figurehead dispute (109ff), or indeed any number of clashes
between Lindsay and Darby. And looking ahead to the bottom of 420: "... the
resulting ill-will ..." etc.

All students throw themselves with enthusiasm into the musical number, which
both confirms and produces solidarity, functioning as a distraction from
other, perhaps more disruptive, interaction. Any individuality is expressed
musically, through the range of instruments on offer, as well as the
intimate relationship between performer and instrument: "Alonzo Meatman, for
example, having specialised in playing harmonica through his nose ..." etc.

But the musical number also signifies disorder, ie the absence of Alonzo,
not where he should be. Moreover, at the top of 419, students are
"reprimanded ... for improvising ..." etc; by the end of the musical number
(bottom of 420) improvisation is evident, if contained (eg "brief novelty
effects).