Mardi Gras, by Karen Ellsbury
-----------------
Sunday, February 3, 2008
ACROSTIC, Puzzle by Emily Cox & Henry Rathvon, edited by Will Shortz
Mardi Gras -- that time of year is here, and The New York Times has given us another wonderful and timely acrostic puzzle for the occasion from that marvel of a team, Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon, with editor Will Shortz.
“As they had for decades, [brass bands] provided the music for the endless cycle of dances and parades in New Orleans, popularizing the startling fusion of influences and celebration that came to be hailed as the only original art form created in America. It would be hyperbole, if not false, to name jazz a child of Carnival; however the joyous license of the music owes more than passing acquaintance to the liberties of Mardi Gras and a population long-accustomed to dancing in the streets.” -- Mardi Gras: New Orleans, by Henri Schindler.
The quotation appears in a slightly shorter form, but with the full meaning intact, it reads: IT WOULD BE HYPERBOLE TO NAME JAZZ A CHILD OF CARNIVAL HOWEVER THE JOYOUS LICENSE OF THE MUSIC OWES MORE THAN PASSING ACQUAINTANCE TO THE LIBERTIES OF MARDI GRAS AND A POPULATION ACCUSTOMED TO DANCING IN THE STREETS. The author’s name and the title of the work: HENRI SCHINDLER MARDI GRAS -- “New Orleans” is omitted from the title.
The defined words: HULAHOOP (A. Ring used in some circus acts [2 wds.]); ENSEMBLE (B. Group of players or vocalists); NOTIONS (C. Whims; ideas; items in a sewing kit); RUBATO (D. Not strictly on the beat, flexible with the tempo); INSTEP (E. Synchronized, as marchers [2 wds.]); SQUEEZE (F. Play an accordion, e.g.); CRAWFISH (G. Erouffee ingredient, often); HEMSTITCH (H. Decorative needlework along a border); ICECAPADES (I. Glitzy show first seen in 1940 in Hershey, Pa. [2 wds.]); NATCHEZ (J. Tribe found by French explorers on the lower Mississippi); DAHLIA (K. Mexico’s national flower); LOVESONG (L. Number for a flame [2 wds.]); EURYTHMY (M. Gestural performance art sometimes used in education and therapy); RUNWILD (N. Cut loose, kick up your heels [2 wds.]); MODULATE (O. Change keys in the middle of a piece); ADJECTIVE (P. Clifton Fadiman’s “banana peel of the parts of speech”); ROMANTIC (Q. Inclined to fantasize); DOWNBEAT (R. Monthly magazine for fans of bebop, blues, etc. [2 wds.]); ICONOCLAST (S. Smasher of idols); GRAFFITO (T. The writing on the wall?); ROISTER (U. Make merry, revel, carouse); APOGEE (V. Furthest point in an orbit); SAINTJOAN (W. Canonized warrior who dressed in drag [2 wds.]).
Admittedly, a tough solve, but when given a clever quotation on a particular subject by an author who’s been there, done that -- along with the defined words that Ms. Cox and Mr. Rathvon have extracted from the quotation, a majority of the words pertinent to the quotation -- and then challenging one to put it all back together from the coyest of clues -- well, a parade of joy!
-----------------
To go to the original post with illustrations and the completed puzzle, or to leave a Comment, click on the TITLE at the beginning of today's or any day's commentary.
