Musical Chairs

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution
Each of the twelve vertical columns in this puzzle contains one light whose clue is indicated by an asterisk. The answers to these twelve clues play musical chairs before being entered in the grid as lights: i.e., their letters rotate sequentially and drop one member. For example, the word "chair" as an answer might be entered as "hare" with the "i" dropped, or "irha" with the "e" dropped, etc. The twelve letters discarded in this manner are to be seated at the tops of their respective columns, where they will compose a word of great importance to music. Answers to normal clues include two proper nouns. Remember that punctuation in the clues may be used deceptively.

Across

  • 1.
    Robin Hood's men comprise band members, but not their leader (7)
  • 7.
    Articulate star in Casablanca making truck (5)
  • 11.
    Force thousands out of business (6)
  • 13.
    Slip can cause drinks of the tongue (5)
  • 15.
    Do air broadcast (5)
  • 16.
    Charwoman—a clever cover for Bond (7)
  • 17.
    Humiliate oneself for $1000 in front of eccentric lover (6)
  • 18.
    Get strange ride out West, sitting in front (5)
  • 20.
    Protected from the sun, Dover is in a different light (7)
  • 22.
    Got high from wine (4)
  • 23.
    Dislikes wits (5)
  • 25.
    Like a lead balloon, e.g., without one sign of amusement (5)
  • 28.
    High card following diamond, heart, club (4)
  • 30.
    Filled from apple tree after a soft shaking (7)
  • 32.
    Find bear in stall (5)
  • 34.
    Warning to middle-man: bring back artwork (6)
  • 36.
    Wingless small fat duck (7)
  • 37.
    Swing music like Indian music (5)
  • 38.
    Band performances include top-grade ushers (5)
  • 39.
    Shuffle in Las Vegas or Monte Carlo? (6)
  • 40.
    Harry Truman's inaugural facility (5)
  • 41.
    Stabbed at visitor in audience (7)

Down

  • 2.
    Zorro—American fencing character like Don Quixote (6)
  • 3.
    "Improvisational Epics": original Duke—and hot (6)
  • 4.
    Fix up ripped-off piano (5)
  • 5.
    Take dream companion (and lover when unclothed) (6)
  • 6.
    Kidnappers get six hundred for European (6)
  • 7.
    Flying angels leaving behind grand trails (5)
  • 8.
    Compass of optical silica (4)
  • 9.
    Put faith in Twice Told Tales? (6)
  • 10.
    Song for maiden of mountains to yodel with abandon (6)
  • 11.
    Money makes a king (6)
  • 12.
    Albums of Royal English Strings (7)
  • 14.
    Cavalrymen's top brass? (7)
  • 19.
    Part for voice and part for drum (4)
  • 21.
    Bracing for the top note of scale (5)
  • 22.
    Piano in terrible peril from a small wave (6)
  • 23.
    Take me to a certain musical bar (7)
  • 24.
    Fm happy to be cruel, and unhappy it's wrong (6)
  • 26.
    Holders of first, second, and third tubas emend piece (7)
  • 27.
    These instruments suit rag playing (V) (7)
  • 28.
    Musician's murder revolved around piece of music (7)
  • 29.
    Popcorn, peanuts, and trumpet blasts! (7)
  • 30.
    Metropolitan Opera House—Enrico's in the middle of "Rhythm" (6)
  • 31.
    Raise spirits of dead after Easter (5)
  • 33.
    Hear gossip about Ulysses' best friend (5)
  • 34.
    Unfortunately, spit up—disgorging one wishbone (4)
  • 35.
    Bach's B Minor is one great piece (4)