Category: Mostly Musical Mini

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 20

Words:  24

Average Length:  4.83

Despite my cluing it as an elementary school instrument, there is some wonderful classical music composed for 15 Across.  Here’s a link to Vivaldi’s [15 Across] Concerto in C (RV 443).  The first movement (Allegro) is full of virtuosic fireworks, the second movement (Largo) is hauntingly beautiful, and the third movement (Allegro Molto) is even more technically impressive than the first.  I hope you enjoy both the puzzle and the music!

Technical note: due to an oversight and laziness on my part, when you solve the puzzle online, print it, or open it in AcrossLite, the title will say 19, not 20. I promise it’s a brand-new puzzle.

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 19

Words:  24

Average Length:  4.67

By chance, this grid includes answers/clues related to two shows that, to virtually the entire Earth, are the height of musical theatre – but, to me, are fatally ill-conceived.  The first, 8 Across, has terrific music but an outrageous plot.  The second, Rent (see clue for 3 Down), has even better music but struck me as whiny.  Having said that, (1) Jonathan Larson was a genius, and his early death was tragic, and (2) I’ve never seen 3 Down, so it may be the whininess carries through from the original.

I will take every opportunity to mention The [16 Down] Empire in my puzzles.  They were (until their breakup in April 2022) a group of stellar Australian musicians who wrote infectious songs and played an exhilarating mix of rock, jazz, Latin, reggae, music hall, and any other musical genre you can think of.  If you don’t know them, start with their second album, “Two Shoes,“ which is in my top 5 most-played of all time.  You’re welcome.

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 18

Words:  16

Average Length:  5.00

I hope you enjoy this week’s MMM.  Starting with today’s grid, I plan to write a few totally subjective sentences about one or two entries in each MMM.  Here goes:

8 Across (ranked by Rolling Stone as the 243rd greatest song ever) is the most radical track on Revolver, which at the time was the most radical album in pop music history (and is Rolling Stone’s 11th greatest album ever).  It’s a bleak, beautiful song with a propulsive melody and wistful lyrics (mostly by Paul) and a terrific, jagged George Martin string arrangement. 

Revolver is my favorite Beatles album (Rubber Soul is second), but 8 Across is only my fourth favorite song on the album.  I generally prefer John’s songs to Paul’s, and two of his tunes on Revolver – She Said She Said and I’m Only Sleeping – take first and second.  Paul’s masterpiece, Here There and Everywhere, ranks third for me. 

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 17

Words:  19

Average Length:  4.63

Difficulty:  Medium-ish

This one has a bit more music theory than usual, but there should be enough gimmes to let any musical neophytes solve without too much resistance.  Enjoy!

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 16

Words: 18

Average Length: 5.00

Difficulty: Mezzo Forte

Well You Needn’t be concerned.  Even if you don’t solve this til Round Midnight, it’s Straight, No Chaser.  If you know all these tunes, 9 Across will drop right into the grid.  If you don’t, check them out!

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 15

Words:  24

Average Length:  4.67

Difficulty:  Maybe a tad tougher than usual.  Or maybe not.  I don’t know.

This week’s MMM features a brilliant musician who is also very funny (whom you all know), another brilliant musician who is also very funny (whom you probably don’t know but should), a major earworm, and a smattering of rock, K-Pop, standards, and rap.  Enjoy!

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Mostly Musical Mini Uncategorized

Mostly Musical Mini 14

I’m back from a wonderful trip hiking in Wales and riding trains in the Isle of Man (including the railway that inspired Thomas the Tank Engine!). I’m posting this early because I cracked my computer screen and I’m not sure how long it’ll take to repair it. Stay tuned for a challenging Themeless on Sunday, assuming I have my computer back.

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 13

Words: 16

Average Length: 5.25

Difficulty:  A smidge tougher than average maybe?

Mix one cup of rock, a couple of tablespoons of pop, indie, and rap, and a dash of other music stuff, pour the mixture over 7 artfully arranged squares of very dark chocolate, marinate for a few weeks in your “Upcoming Puzzles” folder, and voila – Mostly Musical Mini 13, where, fittingly, 13 of the 16 clues are legitimately music-related.  I hope you find it tasty!

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 12

Words:  17

Average Length:  4.94

Difficulty:  Legato

Pop, rock, rap, jazz, classical, reggae, and old technology, all in a tidy 7×7 package.  This one should be quick, easy, and (I hope) fun!

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Mostly Musical Mini

Mostly Musical Mini 11

Words:  16

Average Length:  5.00

Difficulty:  Listening-habits specific – this one leans heavily jazz and rock

I started with the cold/hot pair at 4D and 12A and ended up with a bit of R&B, jazz, disco, and classic rock.  Which is an indirect way of saying that none of the theme entries is more recent than around 1976.  I’ll try to be more chronologically inclusive (i.e., less fusty) in future offerings, I promise.

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