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Title Sine Qua Non
Setter Shackleton
Series The Listener
Number 4079
Date 27/03/2010
Grid 13×13 barred grid with 180° symmetry.
Preamble Most clues contain a misprint of one letter in the definition. The correct letters, in clue order, reveal hints for deriving two versions of a question from the remaining clues. The penultimate element of the first version is one of four that share identical components, as described by a five-letter definition concealed in the grid. These four elements and another five-letter word must be highlighted to show key information relating to the question and an initial representation of the questioner.
One of the four elements, interpreted differently, indicates which letter of which word in each non-misprint clue contributes to another message. The action it describes must be applied to the letters of the five-letter definition (and their counterparts) to reveal a representation of that element which must be highlighted in full. Finally, the key information must be modified to provide a consistent rendition. All entries are words in both the initial and final grids. The Chambers Dictionary (2008) is the primary reference; The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations will also help.
Solution Notes
(Hide Solution)		Misprints in clues spell "Dot one's Is and cross one's Ts", and "Iddy-umpty", hinting at reading Is as Morse code dots and Ts as dashes in the normal clues. This yields "Must it be?" and "Muss es sein?", a question posed by Beethoven in his Quartet in F major, Op 135.
The penultimate element in the first version (B = - . . .), and three elements with identical material (L = . - . . , F = . . - . , and V = . . . -) are all described by "paeon" (a foot of four syllables, any one long, three short). B, L, F and V each occur once in the grid, and all need to be highlighted along with "major", spelling out LVB (representing Ludwig van Beethoven) and F major. The element V suggests taking the fifth letter of the fifth word in each normal clue to give "diametric exchanges" which, when applied to "paeon" (and the diametrically opposed letters in the grid), result in "dit, dit, dit, dah", the opening notes of "The Fifth (Symphony)", and the Morse code for V. Finally F major needs to be changed to C minor, the key of "The Fifth".
KeywordsAGC Dot ones Is and cross ones Ts Iddy-umpty Morse code Must it be Muss es sein Quartet in F major Op 135 Ludwig van Beethoven letter-B letter-V letter-F letter-L letter-V paeon dit dit dit dah The Fifth Symphony C minor
Acknowledgements Preamble and solution notes © 2024 The Times. Reproduced with permission.
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