Half a Ton by Llig

Puzzle explanation

The unclued perimeter gave Ralph Vaughan Williams (d. August 26, 1958) and two of his works. Some other clues and answers referred directly or indirectly to further works: see the table below.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
9 ANANA (Beethove)N in A ANA; reference ballet with music by Sullivan
10 SPITS (S + S) about PIT
12 MUSCI MUSIC *; “Rolling stones gather no moss”
13 ÉTOURDIE DI(va) after (E + TOUR) + E(lektra); opera by Strauss
14 ASPORT A + S(eraglio) + port; opera by Mozart
16 ENSEMBLE E + N + semble; reference English National Opera
18 LAMELLA ALL-MALE *
21 PREEN P(ianist) + NE’ER
23 BEDROLL BE DROLL
24 ILLER TRILL * with T changed to E
25 SWATTED WAT after S + TE + D(eum); reference VW’s Te Deum in G
28 WALKER-ON (ONE + W + LARK) *; reference to The Lark Ascending (see 33dn)
34 LINGOT IN G in (L + OT); reference VW’s Mass in G minor
35 ANARCHIC (PANIC – P) about ARCH
36 PRADO OPEN ROAD * – ONE *
37 HELOT OTHELLO * – LO
38 EXEEM (River) EXE + E(scamillo) + M; bullfighter in Carmen
Down
1 NAUSEA AS JENUFA * – F – J; reference Janáček (ů in Jenůfa could not be printed)
2 WASPS WAS + PS; reference VW’s overture The Wasps
3 ENCODE E + (N + C + D + E) about O; reference Enigma Variations
4 NAIRA (OCARINA – O – C) *; reference currency in Nigeria
5 OATEN EN after OAT
6 CROSSTOWN TOWN after CROSS; reference to Cambridge, Massachusetts because of North American usage; VW attended Cambridge, England
7 EPROM E + PROM
8 DIDO Hidden
11 TITLED LED after TIT; reference VW’s opera Sir John in Love
15 REPLA Hidden
16 ELDERSHIP SH in LEIDER * + P
17 BENT BEN (Britten) + T(allis); reference Sir Edward Heath, as conductor, also an indication of the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
19 MALL First letters; reference VW’s song Linden Lea
20 LERES REELS *
22 FLAUNE (FUN + ALE) *
26 TENREC TEN(uto) + REC(ord); music by Saint-Saëns
27 ERODES Odd letters anagrammed; reference VW’s opera Hugh the Drover
29 KIROV Composite anagram: answer + NO SIBS → NOVOSIBIRSK
30 ORIEL IE in (O + RL); references VW’s An Oxford Elegy and the Oxford college
31 PIPER PIP + ER; reference The Piper, one of VW’s Ten Blake Songs
32 AGAMI GAM in AI
33 GALA (A + L(ark) + A + G) <; reference VW’s violin work The Lark Ascending
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