Times 2 Jumbo 7th January

[Crystal Tips]

My husband and I have struggled with this one for a whole week and this last clue has defeated us

47a Players of middle range instruments (9) T?N?R?S?S.

It probably ends in "rists" but we just can't figure it out - any ideas?

Good job the Times now gives us two weeks to get these in! Thanks in advance.

[gillwil]

tenorist

[Crystal Tips]

Thanks gillwil, but what sort of instrument is a tenor? I thought tenor only referred to Pavarotti & co!

[heatherglen]

one who sings tenor or plays a tenor instrument

[flamingo97]

Yes, agree with heatherglen. This is from Chambers:

tenor (obsolete or old-fashioned tenour) tenLGr, noun the adult male voice intermediate between baritone and alto; in early polyphonic music the part maintaining the melody, often assigned, in counterpoint singing, to this voice; a person who sings tenor; the part next above the bass in a vocal quartet; an instrument, eg the viola or recorder, of corresponding compass;

[pega]

I Gave this answer to another AB yesterday, players of a Tenor Saxaphone have completed The Times Crossword for years with just a dictionary before the laptop,! Crystal Tips a very good site is ONE LOOK DICTIONARY put in the letters you have and will come up with the word and definition of TENORISTS Hope this helps its an excellent site takes you to all sorts of other sources good Luck.

[Crystal Tips]

Thanks everyone - I'm a bit wiser now than I was this morning!