The whole "Story teller" collection was also released in France where I live - I even had the 26 cassettes. It's nice to be able to hear it in English, and even amazing to hear Tom Baker "The 4th Doctor" deliver his narration with such finesse.
I'm going to be playing this overture in a concert with my orchestra in just over a week. Now that I have heard the story of William Tell with the music, it all makes sense. Thank you so much for making this narration. 😊
We had those same stories in french with tape cassettes in the 1980's! That's song at the beginning and the "ding" to turn the page brought back so many stories!! Wow, just WOW
William Tell was popular with the people of his lakeside town of Altdorf in Switzerland. He was the best sailor on Lake Lucerne, and the finest archer. And he hated the cruel Duke Gessler who had been sent by a foreign power to rule and plunder the district. Tell's courage and skill made him a hero to the local people. For that reason, Gessler both hated and feared him. So to keep out of trouble, William Tell went to live in the mountains with his young son whom he loved more than anyone in the world. . Sometimes, however, he had to go down to Altdorf for supplies. On one visit, he was angered to see everyone crossing the square, bowing to a tall pole with a hat on top! "What's going on? 11 he asked a woman. "The Duke has ordered us to bow to his hat every time we pass it. 11 "What nonsense! I'll bow to no man's hat - least of all Gessler' s ! 11 And he strode across the square, with his little son running to keep up. "Halt!" With a clatter of armour, a group of soldiers sprang on Tell and dragged him and his son to the Duke's court. Gessler rubbed his hands with glee. "William Tell, for the crime of not showing respect to my hat, I could throw you into the dungeons of Kussnacht Castle for the rest of your life." But William held his head high and looked at the Duke with a cool, calm gaze. Gessler seethed with rage. Was there no way of breaking this man's spirit? "Yes," he thought with a vicious grin, "perhaps there is a way." He sat back in his chair. ''I've heard people call you the best archer in the land." "Oh, he is!" cried Tell's little son. "Then what a waste it would be for you to rot in prison. I'll make you this offer. If you can sink your bolt into an apple from a distance of two hundred paces, I'll let you go free." William could not imagine why Gessler should offer
Him this chance of freedom. The shot was difficult, but he was sure he could split the apple. So he agreed. They went to the end of a field where a young oak tree grew. The Duke sniggered. "Now, tie the boy to the tree and put the apple on his head. That should encourage our friend to shoot straight!" Gessler grinned with pleasure as he saw Tell's face grow pale. He had guessed his weakness - he adored his little son. What would Tell do? Would he beg to be put in prison rather than risk the shot? William felt his hands tremble. What if they shook as he aimed the bow? How could he risk his son's life just to keep his own freedom? Then a small voice rang out. "You can do it, father. I know you can.
Don't worry. I shan't move a muscle till you've shot the apple off my head."' The soldiers tied the boy to the tree. A small, red, apple was balanced on the crown of the boy's head. William laid a bolt to his crossbow. The child stood very still. He saw the bow levelled at his forehead. He saw the metal bolthead glint in the sun. He held his breath. There was a twang - and the apple fell in two halves to either side of his feet. His father had won his freedom! Gessler tried not to show his anger. But then a second bolt dropped from the lining of William's jacket. "Why did you take two bolts, Tell?" "If I had killed my son with the first," said William calmly, "I would have shot the second into your black heart, Gessler." That was all the excuse the Duke needed. "Death for your treason! Take him across the lake to Kussnacht Castle, and let the beasts in the cellar eat him alive!" The soldiers bound William, took him aboard the ferry boat, and set sail for the gloomy fortress. "Go home, boy!" Tell called to his son on the shore. "Go home and wait for me." As the boat reached deep water, a breeze blew up, and then a wind. Soon a gale was lifting the lake into a mass of . mountainous waves. The boat plunged and rolled. The soldiers were sick, then nervous, then terrified. "Only William Tell could sail a boat in this weather!" cried the captain, and the others took up the cry. "Get Tell to save us! Make the prisoner sail the boat!" William was untied and he grabbed the tiller, turning the prow of the boat into the turmoil of black rain and spray. He could just make out the jagged rocks of the shore tearing the water like savage teeth. He heaved the tiller round, and a huge wave lifted the boat and dropped it on to the sharp spines of rock. The keel snapped! Snatching a loaded crossbow from a soldier, William leaped over the prow into the branches of an overhanging tree, and from there to the safety of dry land. Behind him, the foreign soldiers were swallowed up by the lake. On the far shore stood Gessler, watching in horror the fate of his finest soldiers. Dropping to one knee, William took aim across the stormy lake and fired - right into Gessler' s heart. Then, through the mist William climbed the wild mountainside towards the home where his son was waiting. Within a few years, Switzerland too broke free of foreign rule, and its people recovered their peace and happiness.
Unfortunately (despite Malcolm McDowell's test of 'culture') I'm afraid the conclusion of the William Tell Overture = The Lone Ranger (High-ho Silver ! Away !)
The whole "Story teller" collection was also released in France where I live - I even had the 26 cassettes. It's nice to be able to hear it in English, and even amazing to hear Tom Baker "The 4th Doctor" deliver his narration with such finesse.
I love the illustrations of the swiss alps and the castle 🏰
I'm going to be playing this overture in a concert with my orchestra in just over a week. Now that I have heard the story of William Tell with the music, it all makes sense. Thank you so much for making this narration. 😊
I am 54 years old, I used to listen to these stories on record back when I was 6 or 7 wonderful
We had those same stories in french with tape cassettes in the 1980's! That's song at the beginning and the "ding" to turn the page brought back so many stories!! Wow, just WOW
Same here. Early 80s (82 and 83) every fortnight here in South Africa. Couldn't wait for every second Friday night.
Wilhelm Tell was my ancestor on my father's side. My mother's ancestors also came from Switzerland. Great Swiss hero!
William Tell was popular with the people
of his lakeside town of Altdorf in
Switzerland. He was the best sailor on
Lake Lucerne, and the finest archer. And
he hated the cruel Duke Gessler who had
been sent by a foreign power to rule and
plunder the district.
Tell's courage and skill made him a
hero to the local people. For that reason,
Gessler both hated and feared him. So to
keep out of trouble, William Tell went to
live in the mountains with his young son
whom he loved more than anyone in
the world.
.
Sometimes, however, he had to go
down to Altdorf for supplies. On one visit, he
was angered to see everyone crossing the
square, bowing to a tall pole with a hat
on top!
"What's going on? 11 he asked a woman.
"The Duke has ordered us to bow to his
hat every time we pass it. 11
"What nonsense! I'll bow to no man's
hat - least of all Gessler' s ! 11 And he strode
across the square, with his little son running
to keep up.
"Halt!" With a clatter of armour, a group
of soldiers sprang on Tell and dragged
him and his son to the Duke's court.
Gessler rubbed his hands with glee.
"William Tell, for the crime of not
showing respect to my hat, I could throw
you into the dungeons of Kussnacht Castle
for the rest of your life."
But William held his head high and
looked at the Duke with a cool, calm gaze.
Gessler seethed with rage. Was there no
way of breaking this man's spirit? "Yes," he
thought with a vicious grin, "perhaps there
is a way." He sat back in his chair. ''I've
heard people call you the best archer in
the land."
"Oh, he is!" cried Tell's little son.
"Then what a waste it would be
for you to rot in prison. I'll make you
this offer. If you can sink your bolt
into an apple from a distance of two
hundred paces, I'll let you go free."
William could not imagine
why Gessler should offer
Him this chance of freedom. The shot was
difficult, but he was sure he could split the
apple. So he agreed. They went to the end
of a field where a young oak tree grew. The
Duke sniggered. "Now, tie the boy to
the tree and put the apple on his head.
That should encourage our friend to
shoot straight!"
Gessler grinned with pleasure as he
saw Tell's face grow pale. He had guessed
his weakness - he adored his little son.
What would Tell do? Would he beg to be
put in prison rather than risk the shot?
William felt his hands tremble. What if
they shook as he aimed the bow? How could
he risk his son's life just to keep his own
freedom?
Then a small voice rang out.
"You can do it, father. I know you can.
Don't worry. I shan't move a muscle till
you've shot the apple off my head."'
The soldiers tied the boy to the tree.
A small, red, apple was balanced on the
crown of the boy's head. William
laid a bolt to his crossbow.
The child stood very still. He
saw the bow levelled at his
forehead. He saw the metal
bolthead glint in the sun.
He held his breath. There
was a twang - and the apple
fell in two halves to either side
of his feet. His father had won
his freedom!
Gessler tried not to show his anger.
But then a second bolt dropped from the
lining of William's jacket. "Why did you take
two bolts, Tell?"
"If I had killed my son with the first,"
said William calmly, "I would have shot the
second into your black heart, Gessler."
That was all the excuse the Duke
needed. "Death for your treason! Take him
across the lake to Kussnacht Castle, and let
the beasts in the cellar eat him alive!"
The soldiers bound William, took him
aboard the ferry boat, and set sail for the
gloomy fortress. "Go home, boy!" Tell called
to his son on the shore. "Go home and wait
for me."
As the boat reached deep water, a
breeze blew up, and then a wind. Soon a
gale was lifting the lake into a mass of .
mountainous waves. The boat plunged and
rolled. The soldiers were sick, then nervous,
then terrified. "Only William Tell could sail a
boat in this weather!" cried the captain, and
the others took up the cry. "Get Tell to save
us! Make the prisoner sail the boat!"
William was untied and he grabbed the
tiller, turning the prow of the boat into the
turmoil of black rain and spray. He
could just make out the jagged
rocks of the shore tearing the water like
savage teeth.
He heaved the tiller round, and a huge
wave lifted the boat and dropped it on to the
sharp spines of rock. The keel snapped!
Snatching a loaded crossbow from a
soldier, William leaped over the prow into
the branches of an overhanging tree, and
from there to the safety of dry land. Behind
him, the foreign soldiers were swallowed up
by the lake.
On the far shore stood Gessler,
watching in horror the fate of his finest
soldiers. Dropping to one knee, William took
aim across the stormy lake and fired -
right into Gessler' s heart.
Then, through the mist William climbed
the wild mountainside towards the home
where his son was waiting.
Within a few years, Switzerland too
broke free of foreign rule, and
its people recovered their
peace and happiness.
And they gave us the overture as a bonus.
I heard this storyteller when i was young
Tom Baker has such a Lovely voice. He was considered to play Gandalf don't you know?
Never knew that. Learn something new everyday
I just noticed that the voice is Tom Baker of Dr Who fame lol
If you google talespinners you can come to a list of stories that were on record when i was young listed as an MP3.
I like how he hit an apple on his son head from 200 PACES!!!
I'm 28 years old. I haven't heard this story since 4th or 5th grade.
A very good video and story.
I think it is good too!
good illustrations
Good they were amazing
The Inspiration to Sniper Elite
What an evil duke
My school teacher showed us this story
Unfortunately (despite Malcolm McDowell's test of 'culture') I'm afraid the conclusion of the William Tell Overture = The Lone Ranger (High-ho Silver ! Away !)