Leo Arnaud (July 24, 1904 – April 26, 1991) was a French-American composer… Read Full Bio ↴Leo Arnaud (July 24, 1904 – April 26, 1991) was a French-American composer of film scores, best known for scoring Bugler's Dream, which is used as the theme for the Olympic Games.

The composer studied composition at conservatories in Lyon and Paris with Maurice Ravel and Vincent d'Indy, After playing as a jazz trombonist in France using the name Leo Vauchant and arranging for the Jack Hylton band in England from 1928 to 1930, he immigrated to the United States in 1931. He worked in Hollywood as an arranger for Fred Waring before joining MGM as an arranger, composer, and orchestrator from 1936 to 1966.

In 1980, Arnaud left Hollywood and retired to Yadkin County, North Carolina. His wife, Faye Brooks Arnaud, was a native of the area. He is buried at Asbury United Methodist Church in Hamptonville, North Carolina.

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01Olympic Fanfare (Bugler's Dream) (feat. Dominik Hauser)0:47

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Leo Arnaud

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Olympic Fanfare
Leo Arnaud Lyrics

No lyrics text found for this track.

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@altfactor

3y↑14

How thus music became the theme for American TV coverage of the Olympics:

In late 1963, ABC Sports head Roone Arledge was about to produce his network's first Olympic telecast (the 1964 Winter Games st Innsbruck), and he needed theme music for the broadcasts.

He gave one of his assistants some money, sent him to a record store, and asked the assistant to buy some symphony LP's.

Arledge played the albums on his stereo, and one piece if music stood out as Arledge thought it screamed "Olympics!".

It was "Bugler's Dream".

It became the theme music for all ten ABC Olympic presentations from 1964 through 1988, and has also been used by NBC for their Olympic telecasts since 1992.

@mydogskips2

6y↑8

+a and Andrew Taylor

I agree, it is very doubtful that the opening theme would be heard today if it were not for the work of John Williams.

Arnaud must be mentioned because credit should always be given to the person who wrote the original theme which an arrangement/transcription is based on, and as such Leo Arnaud definitely deserves credit in this respect, but in regards to the piece which has come to be known as the Olympic Fanfare and Theme, that piece which was written by John Williams, well, with all due respect to Leo Arnaud, it is really only the introduction, about the first 24 seconds of this video(that is of Mr. Arnaud's music) which is actually heard in the work composed by John Williams. And even that part was significantly changed by John Williams, not only in the way it was orchestrated, which is very significant, but even more so with the line of counterpoint he wrote for the trumpets and the line of Arnaud's that he actually takes out(a good decision in my opinion because it only detracts from the theme and muddles up the sound). The harmonization is also dramatically changed, not to mention the fact that John Williams actually repeats the entire fanfare/introduction again, that is he has it played twice, with varied orchestration, which significantly heightens the drama and majesty of the piece.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what Arnaud did, I actually do like the music in this video, Leo Arnaud's Bugler's Dream, but for all practical purposes, the work we know as the Olympic Fanfare and Theme is a composition by John Williams, with only a brief section based on music by Leo Arnaud, significantly altered.

I only wish John Williams was able to find a way to incorporate the second theme starting at 24 seconds into his work somehow, because otherwise it is fantastic, in my opinion the best Olympic theme he has written, by far.

All comments from YouTube:

@altfactor

3y↑14

@bcbarc7044

2y↑1

Thank you! I have wondered this for a long time! "How did the Olympics get paired up with such perfect music??" I'm so glad someone out there knew the story. And Mr. Arledge could not have picked a better piece for the Olympics! Somehow it just says "Triumph!" in music. I also wish I know when they replaced the music that follows the main melody with John Williams' composition? Late 90's? Do you know? I don't know. Thanks again.

@grettajetta

7y↑100

Thank you! Most of the "Bugler's Dream" uploads citing Leo Arnaud are actually John Williams' arrangement. Both are wonderful, but it's hard to find Leo's because of the mislabeling.

@jamesfunk7614

7y↑11

It was tough finding this. After I kept getting the John Williams version, I tried searching for results specifying "Williams" be NOT in the results. No luck.

Finally, it occurred to me to search for "Original Bugler's Dream." Worked great!

@agua9999

6y↑4

James Funk who wrote the original piece? Arnaud?? If so then how/why does John Williams get credit for tweaking someone else’s work ? I never heard of Arnaud until now & always heard that the Olympic theme was written by John Williams?? I’m confused

@andrewtaylor4664

6y↑11

Well,Aranud and Williams needed each other.Without the Williams arrangement,it's doubtful Arnaud's melodies would still be heard today.Williams made them more timeless and universal.Two geniuses helped each other out.

@mydogskips2

6y↑8

@jamesfunk7614

5y↑6

@@agua9999 I remember the first minute of this from watching the Olympics when I was a kid. Then, in the United States, they were covered by ABC. When NBC got the contract, John Williams created a new work. But, the opening fanfare was so well associated with the Olympics, there may have been pressure to quote it. Speculation.

9 More Replies...

@clinke2007

6y↑24

Thanks. It took me forever (like 5 minutes) to find the original and NOT the one by John Williams with his bit attached to it.

@Vares65

12y↑12

Listening to this piece of music is the closest I'm ever going to come to knowing how it feels to win an Olympic Gold medal.

@StageLefty

3y↑7

The opening of this piece was THE Olympics Theme on TV when I was young. Williams’ Fanfare was commissioned for the ‘84 Summer Games in LA. They work well together, and the Williams is distinctly his. In the 70’s, there was an additional classical piece part of the telecasts as a transitional and promo theme. It was by French baroque composer Marais, but I cannot find it among any vintage telecasts nor the Marais search results here. Anyone got an idea what I’m talking about?

@Movierebel3

2y↑1

Not 1984 in LA. Williams' arrangement was commissioned in 1996 for Atlanta. I remember it well, because he introduced it during the opening ceremony, when Muhammad Ali carried the Olympic torch.

@dmbirkeland

8y↑12

Bugler's Dream was first used for the Winter Games in Grenoble France in 1968. I think they were broadcast on the ABC network.

@normanlinden5786

I remember it from the Squaw Valley 1960 games.

@altfactor

5y↑5

@@normanlinden5786 It may have been played live at the Opening or Closing ceremonies, but it wasn't used as a TV theme until the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.

ABC, which carried those games, was looking for a theme music, and legend has it that Roone Arledge gave some money to one of his deputies, who went to a record store and bought several symphonic LP's.

Arlegde then played the records on his stereo, and the opening of this piece of music stood out. He believed it screamed "Olympics!".

@msminlr

4y↑1

@@altfactor So THAT is why I associate it with Olympics coverae!

@victor4782

3y↑3

I think the only time I have heard a modern rendition of Leo Arnaud's (w/o the John Williams arrangement) theme was for WWE's Kurt Angle in an episode of Raw is War. It lasted for a minute but it sounded great.

@gabe_s_videos

6y↑8

"I DECLARE THESE FRYCOOK GAMES... OPEN!!!"

@ATLKapellmeister

12y↑10

This is the that I like it. With respect to Maestro Williams, I prefer the original version.!

@docwilkey

10y↑4

I like this piece of music.

@jonnie106

3y↑3

I recall the second part of the first 54 seconds being at a slightly faster tempo. Just the same, 'this' is the Olympic theme as I remember hearing it as a kid.

@jasobres

12y↑13

I've been wondering where I can hear the original version of this composition in its entirety!

@jamesfunk7614

43w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRcx9gSlY9A

@drewmqn

32w

If you want to hear the inspiration for Leo Arnond: https://youtu.be/fXRfbuQicCQ?si=6U9alpNoLBTwGfY7
It dates to the Napoleonic era.

@philipthebiolaprof

3y↑2

The first 54 seconds are the only portion I've ever heard during the Olympics. I've never heard the rest of it.

@psps6623

and now you know why. LOL

@annieskywalker6405

3y↑2

Give me the hybrid Olympic pairing used today, I say. This + William’s theme is amazing. This makes me think of horse race music.

@clintonearlwalker

3y↑1

I prefer the original because that's what ABC used during the 1968 games when I was a kid, (and we had a black and white TV). The Williams version is just a "bastardization" to me. We had a color TV by 1974 and never missed "Wide World of Sports"--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv368yWOSas

@sidharthcs2110

3y↑1

Thank you

@MichaelPhilipMaunes

5y↑1

Bugler's Dream and O Canada can be made into a medley if Canada hosts the Olympic Games once again...

@runhardmedia

12y

Overrated? I totally disagree, but you're entitled to that opinion. Williams has done outstanding work and deserves credit for his contributions. Steiner is the recognized father of film music and his work and legacy speak for itself. Same for Korngold. They paved the way. Fiedler? Aside from them both conducting the Boston Pops, there's no comparison. Williams is a true composer through and through. But that's the beauty of music. There's something for everyone. SO ENJOY!

@Xogroroth666

9y↑10

To those that bicker about the version: this or William's approach: De gustibus non est disputandum!

@MichaelPhilipMaunes

8y↑3

its first four notes sound like the Canadian national anthem. There should be an arrangement of "Bugler's Dream" and "O Canada" when the Olympics return to Canada very soon.

@FirstLast-qf1df

0:24 I've definitely heard that part played before and after commercial breaks during the olympics

@wiedep

10y

Is this the entire piece?

@johnbrewer3589

10y↑8

No, The widely recognized, stately theme that most Americans associate with the Olympics is actually a piece called “Bugler’s Dream” and was written in 1958 by Noël “Leo” Leon Marius Anaud. It's part of a long suite and included percussion, and fife and drum - The rest of the album is fantastic. John Williams used this one piece and added it to his compositions.

Born July 24, 1904, in Lyon, France, Arnaud studied music with Maurice Ravel (“Bolero”) and Vincent D’Indy before immigrating to the United States in 1931. He settled in Hollywood, where he worked as a composer, arranger and orchestrator for the film industry.

In 1958, he was commissioned by the famed violinist/conductor Felix Slatkin to write a piece for an album of military music called “Charge!” Arnaud responded by writing “Bugler’s Dream.”

ABC was the first network to use the piece when it broadcast the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, France. ABC also used it for its show, “ABC’s Wide World of Sports.” It was so popular and distinctive that NBC retained the rights to use the music when it won the broadcasting rights in 1992. With the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, John Williams composed “Olympic Fanfare and Theme,” which is often played as a medley with Arnaud’s theme.

@wiedep

10y↑3

Anybody have the entire piece?
It was Dick Ebersol - who started in the biz working for Roone Arledge and ran NBC Sports in the early 90's - who dropped Willimans "Olympic Spirit" used in '88 partly because of "Dream's" history on ABC but also because he did not want to cover The Games the way NBC did in '88 under Arthur Watson. Ebersol wanted to put his stamp on The Games coverage and not to carry over what the previous management did, for better or worse.

@altfactor

8y↑6

ABC began using the fanfare portion of "Bugler's Dream" for the 1964 Winter Olympics at Innsbruck (that network's first Games).

ABC producer Roone Arledge, a few weeks before he was to leave for Innsbruck, game one of his assistants some money and asked him to buy some symphonic LP's at a New York record store.

Arledge then played the LP's on his stereo, and the one piece of music struck him as sounding "Olympics"....the opening fanfare of "Bugler's Dream".

The rest is history.

@skirtspink81

6y↑2

Thank you for doing Uncle Leo justice, he and my grandfather were dear friends and my grandfather actually contributed to the composition of this piece. Thank you for taking the time to give credit where credit is due and finding all the correct information.

@bdipaolojd

12y↑5

Williams' mashup is NOT better. This is the original and what I rememebr from when I was young (and the Olympics were always on ABC). ABC had much better coverage too. It was primarily about the sports, not all the interminable human interest backstory BS that NBC does. ABC showed a much wider variety of events--lots of obscure sports you don't see otherwise. NBC only cares about gymnastics, swimming and running.

@moniverio

that beginning...

@runhardmedia

12y

Williams' version is much better! But still big props to Arnaud for this composition.

@ColonelMarcellus

Aw sheeyit, it won't play.

@ATLKapellmeister

12y

agreed!

@jetflyer62901

8y↑5

Did anyone get here from something OTHER than the Olympics?

@SamParkerDev

8y↑7

I actually came here because I specifically wanted to find out what the original piece sounds like, rather than the one they use for the olympics (which is great, too)

@HiddenWindshield

7y↑2

I got here from TVTropes' "Standard Snippet" page, does that count?

@jetflyer62901

HiddenWindshield I guess.

@cjsluiter1917

7y↑1

The Office Olympics!

@sighthoundman

Actually came looking for this piece after the 2017/07/24 (non-Olympian, gotta convert to ISO standard) snippet on Arnaud on Composer's Datebook.

1 More Replies...

@tonybarde2572

The composer is French but this sounds like a German March

@artoffugue333

So are you German too? In any case, you are wrong.

@tonybarde2572

What do you mean?

@ophello

11y↑4

Stealing implies that it was done without people knowing. Everyone knows he used this piece in the beginning of the theme. It's not really a secret. And John Williams wasn't trying to hide it. Enjoy your conspiracy theory.

@artoffugue333

So tell me who's reaping the royalties? Johnny boy, that's who.

@whisper3978

3y↑1

@@artoffugue333 Arnaud is officially credited along with Williams on all recordings, so the royalties would be shared.

@gregsgoatfarm

8y↑3

Wish this were the original. It's a recording of a transcription for standard brass ensemble. The original used no French horns, but did use bass trumpets. And the tempos are too slow.

@ahmadkarkar4263

Greg Bright jg

@jamesfunk7614

6y↑1

Can you point us to the original?

@ABruckner8

THis is the original! The one we know from the Olympics is an edited arrangement.

original score here: http://www.musicsalesclassical.com/composer/work/25674

First part of the score is omitted. Start on page 15.

@jerimassi1889

6y↑1

Try this version. Go to about 2:56 to hear the familiar fanfare:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRcx9gSlY9A

@jonnie106

@@jerimassi1889 Thank you!

@altfactor

6y↑7

The Olympics on NBC: Sliced, Diced, Packaged, and presented "Plausibly Live" in such a way that U.S. Gold Medal wins are shown in the last thirty minutes of prime-time, along with "Up Close and Personal" features so numerous and nauseating they will make you p*ke!

@RangerMcFriendly

This year: “What gold medals?”
Lol.
NBC is hard-pressed to find stuff now.

@kuatiall

12y↑1

Ummm say what you will about Williams' other compositions, he openly used the opening of Bugler's Dream because ABC had been playing the fanfare for like 30 years for every olympics and he used it for the continuity. And tbh after the opening fanfare, this piece is harsh to listen to and not at all moving. And composers have done themes and variations on each other's work back as long as you'd care to research it.