He noted regal variations (5)

I believe the answer is:

elgar

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'he noted' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'regal variations' is the wordplay.
'variations' is an anagram indicator.
'regal' is an anagram of 'ELGAR'.

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(Other definitions for elgar that I've seen before include "man of note" , "Score-person" , "Scorer" , "Out of the strange glare comes an English composer" , "Enigma Variations composer" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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