Listener Crossword 4914: Solution Notes
Figures of Fun by Serpent
Puzzle explanation
CARNAVAL by Robert SCHUMANN (two of the unclued entries) is a set of 21 piano pieces based on his acquaintances and characters from commedia dell’arte. The initials of the extra words in clues spelt out its subtitle, Scènes mignonnes sur quatre notes. The pieces contain motifs based on three sequences of notes, rendered as A-Es-C-H (in the unclued entry AEsCHYLUS), As-C-H (in MARAsCHINO) and Es-C-H-A (SENEsCHAL), where in German notation Es = E♭, As = A♭ and H = b♮.
Clue explanations
Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal
| Extra word | Answer | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| step | VOTE IN | TO < in VEIN |
| consortium | BLOC | B + (CO + L) < |
| eloped | ITEM | 2 meanings |
| New | TUNA FISH | IS in (HUT around FAN) < |
| eye | SALINE | LIN in S(o)A(k)E(d) |
| stance | PROTACTINIUM | UNPATRIOTIC * + M(a) |
| COVERT | C + OVERT | |
| Make | CHA | MOCHA − MO |
| isn’t | RAS | (g)RAS(s) |
| Great | LAGOON | GO in (LA + ON) |
| never | NUMBER PLATES | (P + LATE) in NUMBERS |
| olives | WASABI | WAS + A BI(t) |
| neurologists | VIRIDIAN | V + IRIDIAN |
| nostril | TUNE | (lef)T UNE(xpectedly) |
| Entertaining | ARMY | ARM-Y |
| several | STIGMA | (MAGISTRATES − RATES) * |
| AVID | DIVA < | |
| shredded | STENO | NOTES * |
| uncovered | CEMETERY | CE + METE + RY |
| radio | HIT PARADE | HIT + PARADE |
| LUNATIC | (IN A CULT) * | |
| query | URAL | URL around A |
| understood | CLINIC | CC around (I + NIL) < |
| Accountant’s | NOSE | homophone of KNOWS |
| timeless | AROMA | A + ROMA |
| ridge | INHALANTS | (THIN NASAL) * |
| effort | GIGANTIC | ANTIC after GIG |
| HOOEY | HOMEY with O for M | |
| need | SERBIAN | SN around ERBIA |
| omelette | SMARMY | (mushroom)S + MAR + MY |
| thinking | TOUGH | TO + UGH |
| emotional | WIRE | W + IRE |
| satire | ADZE | homophone of ADS |
| DEAL | 3 meanings |