A Christmas poser!!

[Guest]

OK you guys!

Here's a little choral teaser to exercise your grey cells.

What letter can tye together a noble baronet with a lesser being? [NB you should explain exactly how - that's to stop anybody just guessing a letter at random! ]

The winner will receive a pint of real ale, which I'll be delighted to consume on his or her behalf at a nearby hostelry sometime in the New Year.

All the best to all who read and/or contribute to the CE thread: have a safe and happy Christmas.

And, if you are singing, may all go wonderfully well.

bws S-S!

[Magnificat]

Simon

I think you had better give us the answer!!

[Chris Newman]

I can only suggest the letter "c", Simon, as it connects "baronet" to "y" in "baronetcy". My explanation is that a baronet is below a lord (baron being the lowest of the hereditory aristos) yet is above a knight who is a mere common pleb who has had a pat on the shoulder. "y" is the millenium generation of ordinary people like you and me:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y

I also thought you might be giving a clue with your archaic spelling of "tie/tye".

Probably not the answer you were expecting, but enjoy your pint of real ale on my behalf. Cheers.

[Mary Chambers]

I think I may have a clue about what (or rather who) you're getting at, but I haven't been able to work out the answer.

[Simon]

Well, that's extremely ingenious Chris. Far too ingenious for me, actually, :) and it's not what I was getting at! But you are right that the "mis-spelling" of tie is indeed a clue.

Mary, it isn't a person.

Mag, I've left it cos I thought that many of those who read this and who atre heavily involved in singing will have been initially too busy and latterly too much on holiday to bother. I'll wait it till Friday, just in case somebody pops in.

I'd have thought that most ex-choristers would soon spot it and you'll kick yourselves when you see the answer! One relevant word in particular in the question is so well-known in this context that its association should be glaringly obvious!

[Mary Chambers]

My guess was connected with the 'mis-spelling', Simon, but I don't think I know enough......

[jean]

I never got further than Christopher.

[Finzi4ever]

I certainly haven't got it, despite fitting into your category of fellow-ex chorister/lay clerk boarders. Surely it's no coincidence that you name two eccles. composers (tye & noble - sic) in your Christmas conundrum.

[Mary Chambers]

I thought perhaps the letter is a key (musical key, that is), but I don't know what it is. I can think of a work that just about fits the 'lesser being/baronet' requirement.

[Lizzie]

OK you guys!

Here's a little choral teaser to exercise your grey cells.

What letter can tye together a noble baronet with a lesser being? [NB you should explain exactly how
- that's to stop anybody just guessing a letter at random! ]

The winner will receive a pint of real ale, which I'll be delighted to consume on his or her behalf at a nearby hostelry sometime in the New Year.

All the best to all who read and/or contribute to the CE thread: have a safe and happy Christmas.

And, if you are singing, may all go wonderfully well.

bws S-S!

I could only come up with Bminor - as in Canticles in by Noble and is there one also by Christopher Tye? Plus, minor being a lesser person than major in boys' public schools. Probably made no sense at all! Best. Liz

[ardcarp]

OK Simon, as Christmas is (almost) officially over, put us out of our misery, and have your celebratory pint on account of having stumped us all.

[Simon]

What letter can tye together a noble baronet with a lesser being?

OK then. Well, you're all halfway there and on part of the right track, and one of you has got it, though without the full answer.

I thought the whole thing would click, but clearly not. I'm not experienced at conundrum setting, so it's probably mea culpa. That, or you lot have not yet recovered from over-indulgence at Christmas!

Any way - well done Lizzie. Of course it's the letter B.

Noble is surely the big giveaway: surely the word is naturally followed, with choristers, by the phrase "in B minor". One of the most famous sets about, I should think! A "minor" is a lesser being - both legally and of course at some schools. I thought it would be easy with just that. Yet there are two more clues: Tye also wrote a set of canticles - in B minor. And so did a baronet: namely Sir Frederick Gore Ouseley. Ouseley in B minor aren't sung as often as I think they should be: quite simple - they sing themselves - but highly competent and rather lovely.

So there you are! I'll hope soon to raise a glass to you all, but especially to Lizzie!

[Lizzie]

What letter can tye together a noble baronet with a lesser being?

OK then. Well, you're all halfway there and on part of the right track, and one of you has got it, though without the full answer.



I thought the whole thing would click, but clearly not. I'm not experienced at conundrum setting, so it's probably mea culpa. That, or you lot have not yet recovered from over-indulgence at Christmas!

Any way - well done Lizzie. Of course it's the letter B.

Noble is surely the big giveaway: surely the word is naturally followed, with choristers, by the phrase "in B minor". One of the most famous sets about, I should think! A "minor" is a lesser being - both legally and of course at some schools. I thought it would be easy with just that. Yet there are two more clues: Tye also wrote a set of canticles - in B minor. And so did a baronet: namely Sir Frederick Gore Ouseley. Ouseley in B minor aren't sung as often as I think they should be: quite simple - they sing themselves - but highly competent and rather lovely.

So there you are! I'll hope soon to raise a glass to you all, but especially to Lizzie!

Well,goodness me, I feel rather chuffed I must admit, as you all have so much more choral experience than I. I don't think I've ever heard Ouseley in Bminor so wouldn't have got that bit. Great fun though and thanks to Simon for thinking it up. Perhaps we could have a few more...? Enjoy 'our pint' Simon and if you get to Winchester, I'll buy you one! Best. Liz

[Simon]

Thank you - I'll take you up, Lizzie if I get there. Bit far for me, the south coast, but you never know!

Have a word with your Mr Lumsden about doing the Ouseley in B minor canticles. If he doesn't know them, perhaps your organist will - I'm fairly sure I've heard Southwell do them in the past.