William Tell (opera) - Overture

Overture

Today, the opera is remembered mostly for its famous overture. Its high-energy finale is particularly familiar through its use in the American radio and television shows of The Lone Ranger. Several portions of the overture were used prominently in the films A Clockwork Orange and The Eagle Shooting Heroes; in addition, Dmitri Shostakovich quotes the main theme of the finale in the first movement of his 15th symphony. The overture has four parts, each linked to the next:

• The Prelude is written only for the cello section (including parts for five soloists), the double basses, and the timpani, in a slow tempo and in E major.
• The Storm is a dynamic section played by the full orchestra, with the force of the trombones, in E minor.
• The Ranz des Vaches, or call to the dairy cows, features the cor anglais (English horn) and the flute. It is in G major.
• The Finale is an ultra-dynamic "cavalry charge" galop heralded by horns and trumpets, and is played by the full orchestra in E major.