Okay, so I decided to tackle this ‘sonata end crossword’ thing I found. Sounded a bit highbrow, maybe? But I like a challenge now and then. Got my pen, settled in.
Getting Started
First things first, I scanned the clues, like I always do. Look for the low-hanging fruit, right? Stuff like “Opposite of start” (END, easy peasy) or simple fill-in-the-blanks. Got a few corners filled in pretty quick. Felt good, like I was making progress straight away. You know that feeling? Like you’re actually getting somewhere.
Hitting the Wall
Then, things got a bit sticky. There were clues obviously related to the ‘sonata’ part. Terms I vaguely remembered from somewhere. Stuff like “Final section” or “Musical tailpiece”. My brain just drew a blank for a bit. I stared at CODA for ages, only having the ‘O’ and ‘A’. What fits that? Soda? Nope. Toga? Nah. It’s frustrating when you know it’s supposed to be theme-related but can’t quite grasp it.
There was another one, something about a “concluding passage”. The letters I had were just not cooperating. I started thinking maybe I’d made a mistake somewhere else, you know? That doubt creeps in. Had to put the pen down, walk away for a minute. Made another cup of tea. Sometimes just stepping back helps clear the head.
The Breakthrough
Came back to it fresh. Looked at the intersecting words again. That tricky “concluding passage” clue crossed with something simpler I’d filled in earlier. Suddenly, the letters clicked. FINALE! Of course. Why didn’t I see that before? It’s always obvious once you get it.
Getting ‘FINALE’ was the key. It unlocked a bunch of other answers nearby. The ‘F’ helped with one clue, the ‘L’ with another. It was like a dam breaking. The grid started filling up much faster after that.
- Found CODA eventually (that musical tailpiece).
- Got RONDO which seemed related.
- Filled in other non-theme words that were now easier with more letters available.
Finishing Up
The last few squares fell into place without too much more trouble. Always a satisfying moment, filling in that very last letter. Stood back, looked at the completed grid. Not bad, not bad at all.
It wasn’t the toughest crossword I’ve ever done, but the theme made it interesting. Made me think about those musical structures a bit. Funny how a simple word puzzle can get the old gears turning on something completely different. Anyway, job done. On to the next thing.
