Music Themed Crossword Puzzles by George Barany and Friends
The table below lists in reverse chronological order those of our puzzles that deal with music as broadly defined—mainly classical music and opera, but occasionally more (currently) popular music as well as musical theater, dramas, etc. Some puzzles refer to musical works whereas others focus on individual composers of renown. Refer to the column entitled "Comments" for more specific guidance as to the degree of specialized knowledge required to tackle the puzzle. I routinely try to provide a picture/graphic as a "hint;" in some cases, additional information is provided for your interest to be viewed after completing the puzzle [or immediately, if you want to forego the puzzle entirely].
The page you are currently viewing can be reached quickly by using http://tinyurl.com/classmuspuz and our full menu of puzzles can be reached by clicking here. Enjoy!
E-mail barany@umn.edu to be added to a bcc distribution list.
GB
| Title | Date | Authors | Comments (and note that our "midrashim" have spoilers) |
| "The Answers My Friend ..." | 5/24/2016 | Robert Mark and George Barany | Sunday-sized tribute puzzle celebrating the 75th birthday of an American music icon who has a Minnesota connection (21x21 puzzle). Commissioned for Natural Selections (May 2016), as accessed here. |
| Purple Reign | 4/2016 | Deane Morrison and George Barany | "Mid-week level" tribute to a pop music icon released within days of some local news that quickly took on national import. This puzzle also appeared in Natural Selections (May 2016), as accessed here. |
| L'Chaim | 4/22/2016 | George Barany | "Mid-week level" tribute on a significant anniversary in the annals of classical music (13x13 puzzle). |
| Re:Key to Re:Becca | 44-Across, 2015 | George Barany and Friends | "Late-week level" puzzle, complete with "midrash," honored one of our friends on a specific personal occasion. Specialized knowledge useful, but not essential (17x17 puzzle). |
| Opera Boxes | 12/4/2015 | Martin Ashwood-Smith and George Barany | "Friday-level" puzzle, complete with "midrash," was posted coincident to the publication of another puzzle in the New York Times. |
| A Man Who Loves Buster Keaton and Buster Posey | 11/17/2015 | George Barany | "Mid-week level" puzzle, complete with "midrash," celebrated the birthday of one of my cyberfriends (15x16 puzzle). |
| Goldy Oldie | Fall 2015 | Tom Pepper / Edited by George Barany | "Mid-week level" sports-themed puzzle with a definite local flavor that should be as timeless as the entity it memorializes. |
| Happy Flag Day, 110-Across | 6/14//2015 | George Barany and 121-Across Chiang | Sunday-sized puzzle released on a date of particular significance to the puzzle's honoree (21x21 puzzle). |
| Scotch Tapestry | 6/11/2014 (reposted 6/11/2015) | George Barany, Karen Lundholm, Bonita Sindelir, and Myrna Smith | This "mid-week level" puzzle celebrates a specific personal occasion of a fascinating friend of my co-constructors, and is full of "inside"references that are explained in the "midrash." |
| Well-Tempered Kapellmeister | 3/21/2015 | George Barany and Friends | "Mid-week level" puzzle, complete with many wonderful musical links, celebrated a significant anniversary. |
| The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance | 2/2015 | Ellen Ross and George Barany | Timely tribute puzzle with a Thursday-ish trick (or two or three), and a detailed midrash that explains it all. |
| Latin Lovers | 2/2015 | George Barany | This moderately challenging Sunday-sized puzzle, complete with a "midrash," was created as one of the prizes for our Enigma Variations metacrossword puzzle contest (21x21 puzzle). |
| Soul Endeavor | 2/19/2015 | Michael Hanko | A different sort of puzzle, with cryptic clues, hints, and an annotated solution. |
| Enigma Variations (CONTEST) | 12/2014 | George Barany, Ralph Bunker, and Michael Hanko | Contest puzzle that is time-sensitive, with a meta (grandmaster and master levels), and fun prizes. "Midrash" coming after contest end-date. |
| Concerted Reaction | 9/2014 | George Barany and Markand Thakar | "Late-week level" music-themed puzzle, complete with "midrash," celebrates the 2014-2015 season of a major ensemble led by one of the constructors (19x16 puzzle). This puzzle was reprinted the Baltimore Post-Examiner (January 2015), as accessed here. |
| Out-of-Seasonal Celebration | 3/15/2012 (reposted 9/2/2014) | George Barany | "Mid-week level" puzzle that is a "shout-out" to one of my favorite polymaths. Reposted on a date of great significance to the puzzle's honoree. |
| Escalation | 5/2014 (posted 7/25/2014) | Steve Bachman | "Mid-week level" puzzle, complete with "midrash," that might surprise and delight its solvers, once they figure out its theme(s). Happy Birthday, Steve! |
| Scotch Tapestry | 6/11/2014 | George Barany, Karen Lundholm, Bonita Sindelir, and Myrna Smith | This "mid-week level" puzzle celebrates a specific personal occasion of a fascinating friend of my co-constructors, and is full of "inside"references that are explained in the "midrash." |
| Give Our Regards to a Broad ... | 1/1/2014 (posted 6/8/2014) | George Barany and Ellen Ross | This "mid-week level" puzzle, with a strong show business flavor and complete with a "midrash," celebrates a specific personal occasion of the sister-in-law of a new friend, but can be solved with minimal "inside" knowledge (19x19 puzzle). |
| For Solvers Like You | 2/2014 (reposted 5/2014) | George Barany and Friends | Timely "mid-week level" tribute to a local institution, although we expect it to appeal to music lovers nationwide. |
| Who's Got the Last Laugh Now? | 3/3/2014 | George Barany and Amelia Rosner | This "mid-week level" puzzle pays tribute to an inspirational musician and human being. |
| Connecticut Transfer | 2/18/2014 | George Barany and Friends | This "mid-week level" puzzle celebrates a specific personal occasion of a friend, and includes an appropriate "midrash" (13x13 puzzle). |
| For Solvers Like You | 2/2014 | George Barany and Friends | Timely "mid-week level" tribute to a local institution, although we expect it to appeal to music lovers nationwide. |
| Papa Go Seek | 2/2014 | Steve Bachman / Edited by George Barany | Relatively easy (music-themed) tribute puzzle, complete with "midrash," that marks its constructor's debut to our pages. |
| With a Grain of Saltarello (*) | 12/2013 (posted 2/3/2014) | Noam Elkies | Music-themed word rectangle (3x6 puzzle) |
| Beasts (and Burdon) | 2/2013 (posted 1/2014) | Marcia Brott and George Barany | "Mid-week level" puzzle in multiple formats (including one with audio clues) and a midrash that you can dance to! | Coin of the Musical Realm | 11/22/2013 | George Barany and Noam Elkies | "Friday level" themeless (68 words), with a surprise or two, and a companion 5x5 word square. When done, please read our "midrash." |
| The Old Song and Dance | 10/2013 | George Barany, Noam Elkies, Michael Hanko, and Martin Herbach | This "mid-week level" puzzle was written as a companion to an outstanding Jewish-themed documentary, and is complete with a "midrash." |
| We Mean Joe Green | 10/10/2013 | George Barany and Friends | Tribute to one of our favorite opera composers on the bicentennial of his birth (17x17 puzzle). |
| Ta'amei Tashbetz טעמי תשבץ |
6/30/2013 | George Barany and Rachel Stock Spilker | Difficult Sunday-sized puzzle at the interface of Judaism and music (21x21 puzzle). |
| Sacre Bleu! | 5/29/2013 | George Barany and Friends | This "mid-week level" puzzle celebrated the centennial of a momentous occasion in music history. |
| Alexander's Ragtime Bandleader: A Quasiquicentennial Tribute | 5/11/2013 | Paul Luftig and George Barany | Tribute ("early-week level") to a Jewish-American legend. |
| Damon's Demons | 3/2013 | George Barany and Miriam Krause | "Early-week level" puzzle celebrating one of our favorite musicals / movies. |
| Platoon Lieder: the Official Crossword Puzzle | 1/31/2013 | Michael Hanko and George Barany | This "mid-week level" puzzle was written as a companion to a 2013 cabaret show. |
| Out-of-Seasonal Celebration | 3/15/2012 | George Barany | A "shout-out" to one of my favorite polymaths. "Early-week level" puzzle. |
| The Sound of Music |
1/22/2006 | George Barany and Michael Shteyman | Published in Sunday New York Times (21x21 puzzle). |
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