Listener Crossword 3954: Solution Notes
Multi-part Puzzle by Poat
Puzzle explanation
The puzzle was inspired by the remarkable polyphonic forty-part motet Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis, traditionally performed in the round. It requires eight choirs of soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass (outer ring). A jumbled example for each voice appeared in the third ring: Adelina Patti, Ferrier, Caruso, Terfel, Chaliapin. The five clue types each linked to one voice (S/A/T/Bar/B) as follows: (1) wordplay included an extra S; (2) the letter mixture included an extra A; (3) the misprint in the definition was always a T; (4) extra words in clues were all synonyms of “Bar”; (5) all definitions contained an extra B. Solvers were required to insert I in the centre to complete, with those in the inner ring, the eleven letters of SPEM IN ALIUM.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
- Wordplay indicates the answer with an extra letter not entered in the grid
- Clues contain a definition of the answer and a consecutive mixture of its letters incorporating one extra letter
- Clues contain a misprint of one letter in the definition
- Clues contain an extra word
- Definitions contain an extra letter
| No | Type: details | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RADIAL | |||
| 1 | 1: S | TUPAIA | ASIA after PUT < |
| 2 | 3: si(s)ter | AGLAIA | (L + AIA) after (A + G); reference two of the three Graces |
| 3 | 2: …ual l(a)un… | LUNULA | — |
| 4 | 5: (B)urn | ALUDEL | DUE* in ALL |
| 5 | 4: secure | IZARDS | WIZARDS – W (with); reference Harry Potter |
| 6 | 3: Gree(n)s | SWARDS | WARD in SS |
| 7 | 5: (b)rooms | SOLARS | Alternate letters: ShOuLd A bRuSh |
| 8 | 1: S | SOLITO | SOLOIST with O moved to end |
| 9 | 4: rack | INSTEP | Two definitions (in step) |
| 10 | 2: …sian (a)rt… | INSTAR | — |
| 11 | 5: car(b)uncles | ARILLA | A + (b)RILLI(ant); reference BANT = strength (in dialect) |
| 12 | 2: …el inl(a)i… | NIELLI | — |
| 13 | 4: Sovereign | MADE DO | MAD + EDO; reference former name for Tokyo |
| 14 | 1: S | AIR DAM | AID + RAMS, with DR reversed |
| 15 | 3: (c)offee | MUGFUL | MUG + FUL(l) |
| 16 | 4: buttery | TERGUM | (GOURMET – O)* |
| 17 | 2: …ore pi(a)n… | PINERO | — |
| 18 | 5: Ro(b)ot | TURNIP | Literal reading of TURN IP = PI, the mathematical constant |
| 19 | 3: li(d) | PATINE | PAT + IN + (candl)E |
| 20 | 1: S | PATRON | PAST + NOR < |
| 21 | 4: advocates | OMASAL | (LAS + A + MO) < |
| 22 | 3: (s)ailor’s | LASCAR | RASCAL, R and L swapped |
| 23 | 1: S | BRUTAL | BRUT + SAL |
| 24 | 5: mam(b)a | LATONA | ATONAL with L at front; reference Roman name for Leto, Diana’s mother |
| 25 | 2: …urn (a) res… | NURSER | — |
| 26 | 1: S | ICERUN | ICES + RUN; reference user of a luge |
| 27 | 3: Ra(j)’s | TIFFIN | (I + FF) in TIN (canned) |
| 28 | 2: …f (a)lien o… | OLEFIN | — |
| 29 | 4: measure | ETALON | (T’ + A + L) in EON |
| 30 | 5: Car(b) | ESTATE | Hidden reversed |
| 31 | 2: …bear (a) go… | BORAGE | — |
| 32 | 5: nob(b)le | ACHAGE | (e)ACH + (p)AGE, semi & lit |
| 33 | 3: (w)arp | UNBIAS | ANUBIS* |
| 34 | 4: hound | UNBAGS | Two definitions, one facetious: the opposite of “bags = lay claim to” |
| 35 | 1: S | UNLAST | UN + LASS + ’T |
| 36 | 1: S | UNLICH | LUNCH IS* |
| 37 | 4: Bank | OMNIUM | Composite anagram: TO REMAIN + OMNIUM → MORE AMMUNITION |
| 38 | 3: ac(n)ed | MILIUM | MIL(lenn)IUM (stadium) |
| 39 | 5: demo(b) | MORCHA | M + ORCH(estra) + A(rtillery) |
| 40 | 2: …from (a) sph… | MORPHS | — |
| ROTARY | |||
| — | ADELINA PATTI | A + DELI(catessen) + NA + CHAPATTI – CHA | |
| — | FERRIER | FARRIER with E for A(brasion); reference disease of horses | |
| — | CARUSO | ICARUS – I + O | |
| — | TERFEL | TERF + (h)EL(d); reference use of the blind Milton’s spelling | |
| — | CHALIAPIN | CHAIN about PAIL < | |