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mshefler
January 6th, 2010, 12:24 PM
"A mere schusterfleck."

Thus did Beethoven haughtily dismiss the waltz Anton Diabelli wrote in 1819.
Diabelli had sent the waltz to all the important composers of the Austrian
Empire soliciting each to write a variation on it, which he planned to
publish and distribute the proceeds of sales to a fund for the benefit of widows and orphans
of the Napoleonic wars.

The composition did indeed use the technique of repeating the melody one step higher
which, despite Beethoven's dismissal, had been put to good effect by Mozart, Handel
and many others previously. And despite his initial rejection, or perhaps to show what
*he* could do with such a trivial tune, Beethoven wrote a series of variations on
the theme, published in 1923. Today, while Diabelli's music has been all but
forgotten, Beethoven's "33 variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli" (Op. 120) stands as one of
the paramount piano works of the 19th century and a testament to Beethoven's genius.

Today, we have three geniuses who racked up 5 points with their definitions. The
deal goes to Scott Crom, who is far ahead in the rolling scores. Your sometime dealer
was in a state of continued bliss until Russ Heimerson, the last voter, guessed the
correct definition.


1. an electronic library card.
Submitter: Widdis Votes: 3 & 9 0 + 0 = 0
Voted for by:

2. cross-country skiing or running.
Submitter: Heimerson Votes: *11* & 19 2 + 1 = 3
Voted for by: Carson

3. a spot or stain, esp. of waxy substance on clothing. (Fm German:
Schuhputzerfleck)
Submitter: Kornelis Votes: 14 & 18 0 + 2 = 2
Voted for by: Widdis; Stevens

4. a very early blooming spring perennial flower, about three inches
tall, with a single, small white blossom; it usually lasts only two
or three days.
Submitter: Crom Votes: 5 & 12 0 + 5 = 5
Voted for by: Abell; Keating; Lodge; Shepherdson; Weltz

5. acne. ["Penna. Dutch"]
Submitter: Schultz Votes: 10 & 13 0 + 1 = 1
Voted for by: Crom

6. a concurrence of outrages or misfortunes afflicting one or more
persons simultaneously. [euphemism for _clusterf**k_]
Submitter: Abell Votes: 4 & 14 0 + 0 = 0
Voted for by:

7. a small hammer used by cobblers.
Submitter: Emery Votes: 14 & 19 0 + 1 = 1
Voted for by: Madnick

8. the spotted hyena. [SA Dutch]
Submitter: Barrs Vote: DQ DQ + 1 = 1
Voted for by: Cunningham

9. [Slang] a person who frequently backs out of obligations.
Submitter: Stevens Votes: 3 & 14 0 + 2 = 2
Voted for by: Widdis; Morgan

10. a term applied informally to an anomaly in astronomical images.
Submitter: Morgan Votes: 9 & 16 0 + 2 = 2
Voted for by: Schultz; Weltz

11. the repetition of a melody one step higher.
Submitter: Grove's Music Dictionary Vote: N/A D1
Voted for by: Heimerson

12. an African weaver-bird.
Submitter: Madnick Votes: 7 & 19 0 + 2 = 2
Voted for by: Crom; Cunningham

13. to search by or as if by rummaging.
Submitter: Carson Votes: 2 & 16 0 + 2 = 2
Voted for by: Schultz; Savage

14. a stain, callus, scar or other mark (esp. on the hands) that is
characteristic of a calling or profession. [G., shoemakers' stain]
Submitter: Keating Votes: 4 & 16 0 + 5 = 5
Voted for by: Kornelis; Abell; Emery; Stevens; Bourne

15. shoe polish.
Submitter: Lodge Votes: 4 & 16 0 + 0 = 0
Voted for by:

16. a mourning wreath.
Submitter: Shepherdson Votes: 4 & 19 0 + 5 = 5
Voted for by: Morgan; Carson; Keating; Lodge; Savage

17. a boothook. [Ger.]
Submitter: Cunningham Votes: 8 & 12 0 + 0 = 0
Voted for by:

18. a last.
Submitter: Savage Votes: 13 & 16 0 + 1 = 1
Voted for by: Kornelis

19. dye used to stain leather for shoes. [Ger. schuster, shoemaker +
fleck, stain]
Submitter: Weltz Votes: 4 & 10 0 + 5 = 5
Voted for by: Heimerson; Emery; Madnick; Shepherdson; Bourne

No def: Bourne Votes: 14 & 19 0 + 0 = 0


Nancy Shepherdson
January 6th, 2010, 10:48 PM
That was close!

Maybe it helped that I saw "33 Variations" on Broadway last spring,
about this very thing. Gee, if I'd remembered, I could have guessed
the def and had 7 points!

Whew.

Nancy

France International
January 7th, 2010, 10:43 AM
Beethoven on Broadway? What is the world coming to?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nancy Shepherdson" <nancygoat (AT) gmail (DOT) com>
To: "Dixonary" <dixonary (AT) googlegroups (DOT) com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:48 PM
Subject: [Dixonary] Re: Round 2070 results - "A mere schusterfleck"


> That was close!
>
> Maybe it helped that I saw "33 Variations" on Broadway last spring,
> about this very thing. Gee, if I'd remembered, I could have guessed
> the def and had 7 points!
>
> Whew.
>
> Nancy
>


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Dave Cunningham
January 7th, 2010, 01:30 PM
T think I saw his Fifth in a liquor store there ...

Dave