The William Tell Overture (The Lone Ranger Theme)

Mention the song title "William Tell Overture," and a lotThe opera William Tell was based on a previous work,
of people might scratch their heads in confusion. Buta play written by Friedrich Schiller. The musical version
hum a few bars, and there are few people who don'tof the hero's life is a four- hour work characterized by
recognize this classic tune. It's so famous that it's beencomplicated and demanding scores. Since its first public
covered by literally hundreds of artists since itsperformance at the Paris Opera in 1829, it has been
composition in the early 1800s. Modern recording artistsedited and recreated in less-demanding versions over
still turn out renditions of the "William Tell Overture"the following centuries.
today because of the public's instant connection to itsIn the years after its first performance it was
familiarity.censored and banned by various governing authorities
Though everyone recognizes it, many are not awarefor its controversial glorification of a revolutionary
of the history and the context from which the songcharacter. As censorship often does, this tended only
originated. It was composed by Gioachino Rossini forto fuel the public's interest even more. This may be
his 39th and most famous opera, William Tell. The manone of the reasons the legend of this Swiss hero
on whom the opera is based is a figure surrounded bybecame so dramatically retold, embellished, and
mystery and lore. William Tell, although well-known inexaggerated.
Switzerland as a national hero, is arguably aThe overture itself is written in four distinctive sections,
somewhat controversial figure. Some historians debatewith each leading seamlessly to the next. Rarely has
whether the man even existed. If he did, was he reallyany song without lyrics been sung so frequently. While
the legendary figure he has been lauded as being?the composer Rossini might be pleased with how his
Regardless of such questions, school children aroundwork has become so ingrained into modern culture, he
the world can recite the story of William Tell, the manmay be less impressed with the reasons why. The
who shoots the apple off of the head of his son with"William Tell Overture" catapulted into popularity when
his crossbow. According to legend, Tell, who wasit was used as the theme music for the television
something of a renegade, refused to bow to theseries "The Lone Ranger." Appearing first as a radio
statue of a contentious ruler. As punishment, he wasbroadcast in 1933, followed by the television series, the
forced to either shoot the apple, or subject both"William Tell Overture" may be forever associated with
himself and his son to execution. An expert marksman,the media hit. Politically incorrect though it was by
he successfully saved the life of both himself and histoday's standards, "The Lone Ranger" continues to be
son with a single shot. (He reportedly said afterwardcredited with indelibly etching the overture in the minds
that he had one arrow in reserve for his punisher,of popular culture.
should he have failed his son.)Today the song is parodied more than any other
It's a grand story that is told fondly in manyclassical song, with versions found on the CDs of
classrooms. But, like many legends, his has probablymodern artists and even on YouTube. It graces
been embellished over the centuries, if indeed the mansporting events, and it is particularly associated with
lived at all. Despite the questions about his life, he is stillhorse racing. Even those who can't identify it by name
recognized as a Swiss hero. Perhaps it is this cloud ofrefer to it as "The Lone Ranger Song," and usually
intrigue that has inspired so many artistic works basedthey can't help but hum or whistle along when they
on the legend of William Tell.hear it played.