William Tell

The "William Tell Overture"is most famous as the theme song to The Lone Ranger, on radio, television, and film. But of course it is a serious classical composition, the four-part introduction to Gioachino Rossini's opera of the same name, which premiered in 1829. William Tell was a legendary (or perhaps mythic) crossbow marksman, who led Swiss resistance to Austrian tyranny in the early Fourteenth Century, paving the way for the independence of the Swiss Federation. If Tell was actually a real person -- which seems unlikely -- he might or might not have shot an apple off of his son's head, a feat said to have saved both of them from execution.

In addition to The Lone Ranger, the fourth part of the "Overture," called "The March of the Swiss Soldiers," was also the theme to a British series The Adventures of William Tell. 

Part Four of the "Overture" has been transcribed for individual musicians from Franz Liszt to Glen Campbell (with occasional parodies).

Here is Clayton Moore:

And here is the entire Overture:

 

Comments

[Cory]

For shame, Steve. The William Tell Overture and you don't include these two masterpieces?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0H7kYwK-M8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5vHYpjaUko

[Steve L.]

Thanks, Cory. Your erudition is exceeded only by your willingness to share.

[Richard Zitrin]

Thank goodness you didn't include a Lark cigarette commercial, with singers singing "Have a Lark, have a Lark, have a Lark today...."

[Alex Lubet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IZgQc_NMvI