Rossini: William Tell Overture (1829)

Rossini premiered the "William Tell Overture" in 1829. The song has been used in many cultural references over time. Bugs Bunny, A Clockwork Orange, and several commercials have used the piece. The song is most identified with The Lone Ranger. Unfortunately, there has not been a good Lone Ranger film since the 1950s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoBE69wdSkQ

Elvis Presley: An American Trilogy (1972)

Mickey Newbury melded three 19^th century American standards into one and Elvis Presley made it his own. It became a regular feature of Elvis concerts in the 70s and one of the highlights of every show. The song combines “Dixie”, which was the Confederate anthem, “All My Trials”, an old slave lullaby, and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” representing the Union army.  There have been an amazing 465 covers of the song since it first appeared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxlGOxdgdhg

 

Bruce Springsteen: O Mary Don't You Weep (2006)

"O Mary Don't You Weep" dates to before the Civil War. It's an old slave song which contained coded messages of hope and deliverance. The slaves use the Biblical stories of liberation including Lazarus, Exodus, and the Flood. It was first recorded in 1915 for posterity. The song experienced a resurgence with the Civil Rights Movement.

Springsteen version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tebjshm7f_I

Gospel Version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVwhBendHds

Aretha Franklin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ditHPMxHATg

900. Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner (1856)

"Ride of the Valkyries" opens Act III of Wagner's opera Die Walkure. The ride takes 8 minutes in the opera and has since taken a life of its own in pop culture. The most famous example is the helicopter attack in Apocalypse Now.

Wagner himself is a controversial figure. He soaked up 19th century German anti-Semitism and glorified German nationalist themes. Some have tried to find anti-Semitism in his operas, but this is nothing more than people looking for something that is not there. Despite his nationalism and anti-Semitism, socialists tried to expropriate Wagner for their own uses. He was also Adolf Hitler's favorite composer and played a leading role in Nazi propaganda fifty years after his death. One of my college professors refused to listen to Wagner because of his anti-Semitism and posthumous ties to Nazi Germany.



The opening of Act III:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aKAH_t0aXA

Apocalypse Now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx7XNb3Q9Ek

925. 1812 Overture by Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky (1880)

Americans might believe the 1812 Overture is about Andrew Jackson at New Orleans. However, it's another historical conflict which serves as the backdrop. Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 and captured Moscow. However, the Tsarist forces refused to be lulled into battle and torched the countryside and city to deny the French supplies. With winter fast approaching, the French emperor abandoned Moscow and made the long trek back to Paris. The French suffered over 90% casualties during the invasion and retreat. Only 30-40,000 of Napoleon's original force of 500,000 escaped. Tchaikovsky's work is famous for its use of canon and has become a pop culture sensation in its own right.

Parts 1 and 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgOGl_OWOqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW4C2h3lPac&feature=related