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An Apple, An Arrow, and a Man in a Mask
An Apple, An Arrow, and a Man in a Mask In the early 1300’s, Switzerland was ruled by Austria. Hermann Gessler, the newly appointed Governor of the Swiss town of Altdorf, set out to exert his authority over his subjects, and to humiliate them at the same time. Gessler had his hat placed on top of a pole in the central town square. He ordered the citizens of Altdorf to bow to his hat whenever they passed through the square, as a show of respect to his authority. Most of the townspeople complied, fearing dire consequences if they disobeyed. But there was one citizen who did not bow to the hat. He and his son walked right past the hat in the square as if it were not there. For their act of defiance, Governor Gessler arrested William Tell and his son. As punishment for the ‘crime’, Tell was ordered to shoot an apple off of his son’s head with an arrow. Gessler’s intent was that Tell would miss the apple and, instead, kill his own son. But William Tell’s aim with the crossbow was true that day in 1307, as his arrow neatly pierced the apple, sparing his son’s life and, supposedly, winning their freedom. Instead, Tell was arrested again and exiled to a prison island. But before his sentence could be served, Tell escaped and killed the tyrant Gessler. The Swiss went on to win their fight for independence from Austria, and the legend of William Tell lives on today. So now you’ve heard about the apple and the arrow… but what about the man in the mask? Where does he fit in? Fast forward to the 1800’s. The great Italian composer, Giochino Rossini wrote an opera about the legendary events surrounding William Tell, and his role in the fight for Swiss independence. It was Rossini’s last, and perhaps his greatest, opera. But what about that Masked Man? Fast forward again, to the 1950’s and a popular American Television show about a Lone Texas Ranger and his faithful Indian sidekick. They roamed the Western countryside, rounding up bad guys and generally making the world a safer place to live. The finale of Rossini’s William Tell overture was chosen as the theme song for that show, and has gained almost universal recognition as the “Lone Ranger’s theme”. From 1300 to 1950. From an apple and an arrow to a man with a mask. Hi-Yo Silver, Awaaay! by John R. Cumbow, 2007 |
Listen to the finale of the William Tell overture here
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