Comments on: Independent 7991 / Phi

By: Allan_C

Allan_C — Sat, 26 May 2012 09:12:26 +0000

To be pedantic, the Bunyan hymn is “Who would true valour see”. It was changed to “He who would valiant be” when Percy Dearmer ‘modernised’ it for the English Hymnal. Thankfully many modern hymn books have reverted to Bunyan’s original which goes just as well to Vaughan Williams’ stirring adaptation of a folk tune. “To be a pilgrim” is the recurring last line of each verse.

By: Bertandjoyce

Bertandjoyce — Sat, 26 May 2012 06:22:52 +0000

Thanks for all comments – we don’t recognise some of the names. If you are new to the site we really hope you drop by again!
Thanks Norman L in France – broughtt a smile to our faces when we read your comment.
Thanks also to Wil Ransome. We both missed the typo!

By: Dormouse

Dormouse — Fri, 25 May 2012 23:13:47 +0000

Took a bit of effort to get 20ac and 13/12. I, too, nearly went down the “baseball” path, after getting 18dn.

I did know “kakistocracy” but couldn’t remember how to spell it and couldn’t find it in Chambers. The new edition of Chambers highlights “interesting” words, and when looking down the page, my eyes seem to skip over these highlights. “Kakistocracy” was one of these. Very annoying.

Incidentally, my two favourite viola concertos are probably the ones by Alfred Schnittke and Benjamin Frankel.

By: Wil Ransome

Wil Ransome — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:16:19 +0000

All much enjoyed as ever from Phi. His musical references this time cover a slightly wider range than usual. I never knew that Bunyan hymn was called TBAP; had always thought it was ‘He who would valiant be’. As nms says, several words I’d never heard of but no complaints at all because of the fair clueing.

B&J, there is a typo at 29ac.

By: RFreeland

RFreeland — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:38:31 +0000

OK:

kakistos, worst: superlative of kakos, bad
-cracy, from krateo, to rule.

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:17:44 +0000

Indeed, Norman! And somebody who’s better at Greek than I am (which wouldn’t be difficult) will tell us what the derivation is, no doubt.

By: Norman L in France

Norman L in France — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:39:59 +0000

Kathryn’s Dad@4.
For Kakistocracy he was rummaging around in the Attic

By: Rorschach

Rorschach — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:48:44 +0000

Very enjoyable. 6dn is quietly beautiful. Thanks!

By: Jean

Jean — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:23:52 +0000

Excellent. Almost finished it but went for a guess at 20a and got baseball which in turn stumped me for ‘bona fide.’
Nice one Phi!

By: Kathryn's Dad

Kathryn's Dad — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:56:43 +0000

He’s been rummaging around in his Unusual Words Drawer again …

I’m guessing that the four I didn’t know are the same as nms’s, but they were indeed all clearly and fairly clued, and I quite like KAKISTOCRACY. All good stuff as always from this setter.

Fine puzzle, excellent blog.