Sunday, February 19, 2017

Dan Rather's Quote About an Intellectual Snob Misses the Target

Dan Rather, the long-time CBS news anchor and journalist, has given us many fun quotes. But he's wrong about this quote and definition: "An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger."

Sorry, Dan, but as a musician, I think you need to edit this. An intellectual "snob" is a bit insulting, but I understand why you said that, no doubt playing to the room. But a musician, in this case a classical musician or music fan, certainly does know that the William Tell Overture was used in the Lone Ranger TV show.

In this, as in so many cases, those who know more things greatly increase their enjoyment of life. We "intellectual snobs" have a big advantage. When we hear the opening cello solo of the William Tell Overture, we know we get to hear about nine minutes of great music. THEN the Lone Ranger appears for the last three or so.

But we know the Lone Ranger is coming long before the non-music fans know. We have the thrill of anticipation. And we watch the faces of our friends who don't know as they tune out during the pastoral meadow music, after the musical storm passes. We wait for that moment when the trumpet sounds and the light bulb clicks on as the Lone Ranger thunders onto the scene.

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