She is a housekeeper on a ward with 31 patients, and a Unison shop steward.
But before long, when the orchestra erupted with a chilling unison statement in a dotted-note rhythm, the lumbering imprecision of the playing undercut the effect.
In this partnership, too, Ms. Argerich sets the tone, and the unity is one of spirit rather than letter, with a perfect unison sometimes sacrificed to a spirited turn of phrase or burst of energy.
'Jordan' which follows is like a medieval spiritual, if that's possible, with a great unison chorus from the whole band, while 'Across the Line' has a brilliant flourish of a flute solo that reminds you just how English (not to say folky) Islands-era King Crimson sounded.
None of his colleagues, if they value their reputation, should ever do a unison dance with him.
Despite rising numbers, a Unison survey with 2,621 respondents shows that these part-time workers often feel marginalised.
The leitmotif for the eight couples in the second movement is a unison adagio, with the women in the ballet position of attitude: knee bent and held high.
"Ah, Dolente Partita" ("Ah, Sorrowful Parting"), with its immediate move from a unison to a minor second on the final syllable of "dolente," and from a minor third to a major second on "partita," vividly sets the mood for the entire book.
When Brandon Collwes performed a solo from "Second Hand" (1970) in one corner of the stage, Emma Desjardins and Melissa Toogood took over the rest of the platform area with a near-unison duet from "Aeon".
