Alphabet associations - I

[Nick Armstrong]

Well, my thought about the 'No' was that it was to do with Luigi Nono, but obviously it wasn't him. Norfy got the No No Nanette so perhaps he should set it as I'm not going to be around (and I still don't understand about the maiden on yonder hill)

It's so interesting to have different mind-sets here, I begin to see what my dad means when he says he can tell from the clues and answers who has set various crosswords. I get the Nanette - Nannerl link, also the trio member's breakthrough is Pavarotti shooting to stardom with 'Nessun dorma' I think... and 'No, John, no'... yes I see where you're coming from.

If Anna is otherwise engaged, my vote is for Norfs ! Pity, as it's ages since Anna's given us one. (Quiet at the back!!!)

[Norfolk Born]

Well, my thought about the 'No' was that it was to do with Luigi Nono, but obviously it wasn't him. Norfy got the No No Nanette so perhaps he should set it as I'm not going to be around (and I still don't understand about the maiden on yonder hill)

The song 'There Is A Maiden On Yonder Hill' contains the words 'Oh, no John, no John, no', which I assume is an allusion to John's wandering eye. I looked up the meaning of 'otiose' but am no further forward...(do 'parsing') as far as greenilex's question is concerned (but then, I only got a Lower Second )
Would anybody like a (hopefully) straightforward 'O'?

[Nick Armstrong]

The song 'There Is A Maiden On Yonder Hill' contains the words 'Oh, no John, no John, no', which I assume is an allusion to John's wandering eye. I looked up the meaning of 'otiose' but am no further forward...(do 'parsing') as far as greenilex's question is concerned (but then, I only got a Lower Second )
Would anybody like a (hopefully) straightforward 'O'?

Yes please, NB

[Anna]

Yes please, NB

Ditto Please! Otiose means indolent doesn't it? I vaguely remember struggling with parsing, that may have been in a former life of course!

[Norfolk Born]

Which 'O' quoted from the French national anthem in one composition, quoted from an Italian opera with a Swiss hero in another, amused Meyerbeer and irritated Wagner?
(Anna: 'Otiose' also means 'serving no practical purpose or result')

[Don Petter]

Well, parsing the word No is a trifle otiose and as a gesture I find it clearer.

I'd have thought any definition of gesture must involve posture, movement or action, but no hard feelings.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Which 'O' quoted from the French national anthem in one composition, quoted from an Italian opera with a Swiss hero in another, amused Meyerbeer and irritated Wagner?
(Anna: 'Otiose' also means 'serving no practical purpose or result')

Is it Offenbach, or am I falling into a cunningly-laid trap?
La Marseillaise is quoted in Orpheus in the Underworld*
William Tell (the ranz de vaches in La Perichole**
... and he fits the bill for Meyerbeer and Wagner.

* I once played Jupiter in an amateur production
** I once played Timps in an amateur production

[Nick Armstrong]

Is it Offenbach, or am I falling into a cunningly-laid trap?
La Marseillaise is quoted in Orpheus in the Underworld*
William Tell (the ranz de vaches in La Perichole**
... and he fits the bill for Meyerbeer and Wagner.

* I once played Jupiter in an amateur production
** I once played Timps in an amateur production

Darn you fhg!!! I'd just thought "It's Offenbach!"

(I always think of 'otiose' as being a synonym of 'superfluous')

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(I always think of 'otiose' as being a synonym of 'superfluous')

I always think of it as the composer of (Sitti' on the) Dock of the Bay

[Nick Armstrong]

I always think of it as the composer of (Sitti' on the) Dock of the Bay

Drole, very drole

[Anna]

Drole, very drole

Or even, droll, frightfully droll (if you are Anglo-Saxon) You and your fancy French ways! I did have a go at finding an O, and although I know and can sing the first verse, I had no idea the rest of the anthem was so gory.

[Norfolk Born]

Is it Offenbach, or am I falling into a cunningly-laid trap?
La Marseillaise is quoted in Orpheus in the Underworld*
William Tell (the ranz de vaches in La Perichole**
... and he fits the bill for Meyerbeer and Wagner.

* I once played Jupiter in an amateur production
** I once played Timps in an amateur production

Yes, it is Offenbach, and no, there's no cunningly-laid trap (I just thought it would be nice to move along with a fairly straightforward question). I was unaware of the connection with 'La Perichole', as I was thinking of the 'patriotic trio' from 'Guillaume Tell' which he quotes in 'Le Belle Helene'. But you certainly get to set the 'P'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Which P was present at the birth of

A Cross Essex girl
A Parisian father
A murderous wedding?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

An hour-and-a-half and it's all gone very quiet. Just in case everyone's baffled (and apologies if Carol Concerts are behind the silence) there are three Musical works involved which lead you to a Musician. The last "element" is probably the weakest "link": think of a synonym for "wedding" and I think everything else will fall into place.

[subcontrabass]

An hour-and-a-half and it's all gone very quiet. Just in case everyone's baffled (and apologies if Carol Concerts are behind the silence) there are three Musical works involved which lead you to a Musician. The last "element" is probably the weakest "link": think of a synonym for "wedding" and I think everything else will fall into place.

The second and third suggest Sir John Pritchard, who conducted the premieres of King Priam and The Midsummer Marriage, but I cannot find anything relating to the first.