- published: 16 Sep 2010
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The William Tell Overture is the overture to the opera William Tell (original French title Guillaume Tell), whose music was composed by Gioachino Rossini. William Tell premiered in 1829 and was the last of Rossini's 39 operas, after which he went into semi-retirement, although he continued to compose cantatas, sacred music and secular vocal music. The overture is in four parts, each following without pause.
There has been repeated use (and sometimes parody) of parts of this overture in both classical music and popular media, most famously as the theme music for The Lone Ranger in radio, television and film. It was also used as the theme music for the British television series The Adventures of William Tell.
Franz Liszt prepared a piano transcription of the overture in 1838 (S.552) which became a staple of his concert repertoire. There are also transcriptions by other composers, including versions by Louis Gottschalk for two and four pianos and a duet for piano and violin.
Guillaume Tell (English: William Tell, Italian: Guglielmo Tell) is an opera in four acts by Gioachino Rossini to a French libretto by Étienne de Jouy and Hippolyte Bis. Based on Friedrich Schiller's play William Tell, which drew on the William Tell legend, the opera was Rossini's last, although he lived for nearly forty more years. The overture, in four sections and featuring a depiction of a storm as well as a vivacious finale, the "March of the Swiss Soldiers," is often played.
Charles Malherbe, archivist at the Paris Opéra, discovered the original orchestral score of the opera at a secondhand book seller's shop, resulting in its being acquired by the Paris Conservatoire.
It was first performed by the Paris Opéra at the Salle Le Peletier on 3 August 1829, but within three performances cuts were being made and after a year only three acts were performed. The opera's length, roughly four hours of music, and casting requirements, such as the high range required for the tenor part, have contributed to the difficulty of producing the work. When performed, the opera is often cut. Performances have been given in both French and Italian. Political concerns have also contributed to the varying fortunes of the work.
William Tell (in the four languages of Switzerland: German: Wilhelm Tell; French: Guillaume Tell; Italian: Guglielmo Tell; Romansh: Guglielm Tell) is a folk hero of Switzerland. His legend is recorded in a late 15th-century Swiss illustrated chronicle. It is set in the time of the original foundation of the Old Swiss Confederacy in the early 14th century. According to the legend, Tell—an expert marksman with the crossbow—assassinated Gessler, a tyrannical reeve of Habsburg Austria positioned in Altdorf, Uri.
Along with Arnold von Winkelried, Tell is a central figure in Swiss patriotism as it was constructed during the Restoration of the Confederacy after the Napoleonic era.
Several accounts of the Tell legend exist. The earliest sources give an account of the apple shot, Tell's escape, and the ensuing rebellion. The assassination of Gessler is not mentioned in the Tellenlied but is already present in the White Book of Sarnen account.
The legend as told by Tschudi (ca. 1570) essentially follows the account in the White Book, but adds further detail, such as Tell's given name Wilhelm, his being from Bürglen, and the precise date of the apple-shot of 18 November 1307.
It's a beautiful day for the race
Stu Chan is the favorite today
Assault is in there
Dog Bisquit is three to one
Safety pin has been scratched
And at twenty to one, Feitlebaum
Now the horses are approaching the starting gate
And, eh, there they go
And it's Stu Chan going to the front
Cabbage is second on the rail
Beautiful Linda is third by a length
And Feitlebaum, around the first turn
Stu Chan is still in front
Cabbage is second by a head
(Cabbage by a head)
Beautiful Linda is third
And Feitlebaum into the back stretch
Dog Bisquit is now leading the pack
Lady Avalon is second, very close
Banana is coming up through the bunch
(Banana coming up through the bunch)
And Feitlebaum
At the half Stu Chan still out in the front
Apartment House is second with plenty of room
Assault is passing battery
(Assault and battery)
Notary's Old Jack is fourth
And in last place by ten lengths I believe it is, yes
It is Feitlebaum around the turn heading for home
It's Stu Chan and Dog Bisquit and Girdle in the stretch
Flying Sylvester is third and Mother-In-Law nagging in the rear
(Oh, oh, oh)
And now they come down to the wire
And it's number one and now number two
And it's very close
It'll either be a photo finish or an oil painting
And now Louis speaks with the left
And Louis is in there
Slugging and it's a battle
And now they are tearing hair
There's hair all over the ring
There's hair all over the place
I don't know whose hair it is