Choral Conundrums

[Guest]

As there seems to be some interest in puzzles as light relief, I thought (in the spirit suggested recently by the forum's leaders) that it might be a good idea to start a thread on this section of the board where such puzzles might be set by those who come across (or think up) a good one (or what they believe is a good one, anyway!)

I don't think we should have any sort of routine, but just post when we might feel like it, with either answer or question. The level, perhaps, should be enough to tax the brain cells, but not to require hours of research. Astuteness trather than longwindedness, maybe... sort of general Daily Telegraph/Times clue level?

The only rules I'd suggest are a] that there should be a strong-ish connection with the British choral tradition b] that, if you answer, you give a brief explanation and c] that all questions are printed in colour.

Clerarly, if you agree you'll join in and if you don't you won't. That's as it should be!

So here's the first. I hope I've pitched it right, but time will tell.

bws to all,

S-S!

Who provided for Harry's place, Foster's place and the Trog's place, in that order?

[ardcarp]

Don't be discouraged by the lack of replies, Simon. I guess there's a few brain-cells working overtime. Maybe we'll need you to drop a hint in a day or two's time.

[amateur51]

Don't be discouraged by the lack of replies, Simon. I guess there's a few brain-cells working overtime. Maybe we'll need you to drop a hint in a day or two's time.

Could it be that the person best suited to answer has red-green colour blindness?

[ardcarp]

Nice one Simon! I think I've got it...though I confess it was a combined family effort. (Is that allowed?)


For Harry, think King Henry VI
For Foster, think Dr Foster of nursery rhyme fame
For the Trog, think troglodytes troglodytes, the Linnaean name for a wren.

So, Kings, Gloucester, St Pauls..must be Howells Canticles.

Any good?

[Simon]

Perfect, ardcarp. Well done - and without any of the ckues I was prepared to give!

I hope to go out later, so I'll have a well-earned pint for you.

[decantor]

My heartiest congrats to ardcarp - my thanks, too, as I shall now sleep better. And that was a fine conundrum, Simon - my thanks to you too.

I was on a different tack that was close. Jonathan Dove wrote a commissioned carol some time ago for King's Coll (and a piece for Eton as well); he also wrote something for the opening of Norman Foster's building (the Sage) at Gateshead; remarkably, although I got the Wren reference, I could find no recent connection between Dove and St Paul's or any other Wren church - and that's where I stalled, so to speak, amid Howells of frustration!

[ardcarp]

I spent a while on Foster architecture as well, but ran into a...oh dear...brick wall.

Come on decantor, time you had a go. Not too hard, please!

[Simon]

Ah well, you see guys, if you'd known me longer you'd know that my mind wouldn't naturally be on Dove the composer or Foster the architect. Irrespective of the good works that they may have created, they're far too up to date for an old stick-in-the-mud like me.

But irrespective of the worth of the original question - and I appreciate your kind comments - it's good to see the humour continuing with your own contributions. Foster's brick walls and "Howells" of frustration indeed!

[Anna]

I thought Simon had gone all Welsh on me, like Harry Fosdick "Rhuddlen" God of Grace and God of Glory, so I was looking for Welsh place names!

[decantor]

Ah well, you see guys, if you'd known me longer you'd know that my mind wouldn't naturally be on Dove the composer or Foster the architect. Irrespective of the good works that they may have created, they're far too up to date for an old stick-in-the-mud like me.

Oddly enough, Simon, having followed your CE posts for several years, both here and in The Other Place, I am aware of your feelings about contemporary liturgical music (which are roughly the opposite of mine). But I calculated that you as conundrum-setter were not above a crafty double-think.

I will try to devise a teaser for you, ardcarp, but you guys have set the bar very high. Just don't hold your breath (....and that's not a clue!)

[ardcarp]

I will try to devise a teaser for you, ardcarp, but you guys have set the bar very high.

Not just for me, please! And a slightly lower bar might be welcomed by all of us.

[Simon]

Well, I have a pal at the pub who is very good at cryptic clues and he also likes a wide range of music. We were chatting yesterday about the various types of puzzle that there are around these days and for fun came up with this little one, so whilst you others are thinking, maybe you'd like a go at it? After all, there's no reason we can't have more than one on the go at once.

It's a cryptic crossword clue type.

Without being appropriate, mixed emotion can't adapt a choral anthem: and the composer is the one near the climber's friend. (7,6; 6)

[decantor]

Well, I have a pal at the pub who is very good at cryptic clues and he also likes a wide range of music. We were chatting yesterday about the various types of puzzle that there are around these days and for fun came up with this little one, so whilst you others are thinking, maybe you'd like a go at it? After all, there's no reason we can't have more than one on the go at once.

It's a cryptic crossword clue type.

Without being appropriate, mixed emotion can't adapt a choral anthem: and the composer is the one near the climber's friend. (7,6; 6)

CANTATE DOMINO - PITONI

Anagram of "emotion can't ad" ('apt' being 'inappropriate!); then piton + 1. And a choral anthem of which I'm very fond: good choice! Thank you!

[decantor]

I guess I owe the thread one, so here's a rather tortuous concoction, again on the cryptic crossword principle:-

Anthem has simply no booze - a crazy state. (8,6)
And the composer sounded like he came from Somerset, though alternatively he might be lurking in Pakistan for days on end. (4;8)

[Simon]

Hmm. I think I've got one of the composers, but I can't fit him in with the composition. I think I may be barking into the wind, if I may mix metaphors thus...