Multi-part Puzzle by Poat

Puzzle explanation

The puzzle was inspired by the remarkable polyphonic forty-part motet Spem in Alium by Thomas Tallis, traditionally performed in the round. It requires eight choirs of soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass (outer ring). A jumbled example for each voice appeared in the third ring: Adelina Patti, Ferrier, Caruso, Terfel, Chaliapin. The five clue types each linked to one voice (S/A/T/Bar/B) as follows: (1) wordplay included an extra S; (2) the letter mixture included an extra A; (3) the misprint in the definition was always a T; (4) extra words in clues were all synonyms of “Bar”; (5) all definitions contained an extra B. Solvers were required to insert I in the centre to complete, with those in the inner ring, the eleven letters of SPEM IN ALIUM.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

  1. Wordplay indicates the answer with an extra letter not entered in the grid
  2. Clues contain a definition of the answer and a consecutive mixture of its letters incorporating one extra letter
  3. Clues contain a misprint of one letter in the definition
  4. Clues contain an extra word
  5. Definitions contain an extra letter

No Type: details Answer Explanation
RADIAL
1 1: S TUPAIA ASIA after PUT <
2 3: si(s)ter AGLAIA (L + AIA) after (A + G); reference two of the three Graces
3 2: …ual l(a)un… LUNULA
4 5: (B)urn ALUDEL DUE* in ALL
5 4: secure IZARDS WIZARDS – W (with); reference Harry Potter
       
6 3: Gree(n)s SWARDS WARD in SS
7 5: (b)rooms SOLARS Alternate letters: ShOuLd A bRuSh
8 1: S SOLITO SOLOIST with O moved to end
9 4: rack INSTEP Two definitions (in step)
10 2: …sian (a)rt… INSTAR
       
11 5: car(b)uncles ARILLA A + (b)RILLI(ant); reference BANT = strength (in dialect)
12 2: …el inl(a)i… NIELLI
13 4: Sovereign MADE DO MAD + EDO; reference former name for Tokyo
14 1: S AIR DAM AID + RAMS, with DR reversed
15 3: (c)offee MUGFUL MUG + FUL(l)
       
16 4: buttery TERGUM (GOURMET – O)*
17 2: …ore pi(a)n… PINERO
18 5: Ro(b)ot TURNIP Literal reading of TURN IP = PI, the mathematical constant
19 3: li(d) PATINE PAT + IN + (candl)E
20 1: S PATRON PAST + NOR <
       
21 4: advocates OMASAL (LAS + A + MO) <
22 3: (s)ailor’s LASCAR RASCAL, R and L swapped
23 1: S BRUTAL BRUT + SAL
24 5: mam(b)a LATONA ATONAL with L at front; reference Roman name for Leto, Diana’s mother
25 2: …urn (a) res… NURSER
       
26 1: S ICERUN ICES + RUN; reference user of a luge
27 3: Ra(j)’s TIFFIN (I + FF) in TIN (canned)
28 2: …f (a)lien o… OLEFIN
29 4: measure ETALON (T’ + A + L) in EON
30 5: Car(b) ESTATE Hidden reversed
       
31 2: …bear (a) go… BORAGE
32 5: nob(b)le ACHAGE (e)ACH + (p)AGE, semi & lit
33 3: (w)arp UNBIAS ANUBIS*
34 4: hound UNBAGS Two definitions, one facetious: the opposite of “bags = lay claim to”
35 1: S UNLAST UN + LASS + ’T
       
36 1: S UNLICH LUNCH IS*
37 4: Bank OMNIUM Composite anagram: TO REMAIN + OMNIUM → MORE AMMUNITION
38 3: ac(n)ed MILIUM MIL(lenn)IUM (stadium)
39 5: demo(b) MORCHA M + ORCH(estra) + A(rtillery)
40 2: …from (a) sph… MORPHS
ROTARY
  ADELINA PATTI A + DELI(catessen) + NA + CHAPATTI – CHA
  FERRIER FARRIER with E for A(brasion); reference disease of horses
  CARUSO ICARUS – I + O
  TERFEL TERF + (h)EL(d); reference use of the blind Milton’s spelling
  CHALIAPIN CHAIN about PAIL <
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