NY Times Crossword
September 10, 2020
David J. Kahn

The three phrases below conceal three words related to Ludwig van Beethoven. The letters of the words are in correct left-to-right order, but are not consecutive. The three words are distinctive in a certain way. What are the words and what is distinctive about them?

1. PUERTO RICAN
2. SCHOOL RALLY
3. SPANISH TUTORIAL

Answer:

The three phrases contain the titles of the three symphonies, out of nine, that have names: 

1. puERtO rICAn - EROICA (3rd symphony) 
2. sCHOol RALly - CHORAL (9th symphony)
3. sPAniSh TutORiAL - PASTORAL (6th symphony)