Haydn in Plain Sight

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FRIDAY PUZZLE — The typical solving process for Wordplayers, as I understand it, is as follows:

1. Start solving the puzzle

2. Complete the puzzle, with or without Googling or peeking at Wordplay

3. Come to Wordplay to see if they were right and to discuss the puzzle.

The part that isn’t included in that process is the staring at the grid until the lightning bolt hits, so you can find a theme that is both unexpected — it’s Friday, after all — and hidden in plain sight.

David Kahn is back, and he offers us a sort-of-themed puzzle that had me staring for quite a while.

And then, as they say, it hit me.

Wait, There’s a Theme? On a Friday?

There is a note in today’s puzzle that reads: “The completed puzzle conceals the name of a famous composer, along with something that might help you listen to him. Who and what are they?”

The thing I liked about this puzzle is that there is a big H made of black squares in the middle of the grid, which made me believe that the composer was perhaps Haydn or Handel, but that turned out to be a red herring. Or my own mistake, which is highly likely.

It turns out that the composer is Ludwig van BEETHOVEN, which is right there in the middle of the grid. You don’t see him? Take a closer look at the Across entries in the center:

35A: BEET + H + 36A: OVEN = BEETHOVEN

Crossing that is a pair of EARPHONES, which is one way to listen to him.

21D: EARP + H + 39D: ONES = EARPHONES

And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t include the Monty Python sketch about our composer:

Tricky Clues

1A: “Help during the fall?” is a good clue for GRAB BAR. The entry just seems random to me.

8A: A debut entry and perhaps not a well known Spanish word, but TIL that a PARADOR is a castle or luxury environment that is being used as a hotel.

16A: Interesting way to clue ABILENE, Tex. Hardin-Simmons University is a Baptist General Convention of Texas-affiliated liberal arts school.

52A: This was a tough one to parse. “That right introduction?” sounds like it means something completely different, but we are supposed to fill in the blank here. Think of this as “___ that right?” The answer is ISN’T.

11D This is not a comment about your family. “Stout cousins?” are ALES. (I hope. I’m not a beer drinker.)

12D: I wasn’t familiar with Edward Albee’s “A DELICATE BALANCE,” but would like to welcome it back to The New York Times Crossword after a 30-year absence.

Constructor Notes

When I first wrote this puzzle, I had BRIGHTMAN (as in Sarah) crossing BEETHOVEN. The idea was to pair a classical composer with a “crossover” artist. Will, however, liked EARPHONES, which could also be paired with Beethoven, better, so I reworked some of the original grid. I think gimmicks like this in a Friday or Saturday are fun and add something to otherwise-themeless puzzle.

I think you’re right, Mr. Kahn.

Who are You Calling Weird?

Crossword editor Will Shortz appeared on the “Weird Work” podcast to talk about his job. You can listen to his episode here:

iTunes: https://apple.co/2FMNtKq

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2DozBbG

Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2ESII0z

Google Play: http://bit.ly/2DMYV86

Your thoughts?