Freischutz
Encyclopedia
A Freischütz in German
folklore
, is a marksman who, by a contract with the devil
, has obtained a certain number of bullets destined to hit without fail whatever object he wishes. As the legend is usually told, six of the magic bullets (German: Freikugeln, literally "free bullets"), are thus subservient to the marksman's will, but the seventh is at the absolute disposal of the devil himself.
Various methods were adopted in order to procure possession of the marvelous missiles. According to one, the marksman, instead of swallowing the sacramental host, kept it and fixed it on a tree, shot at it and caused it to bleed great drops of blood. He then gathered the drops on a piece of cloth and reduced the whole to ashes, and then with these ashes added the requisite virtue to the lead of which his bullets were made. Various vegetable or animal substances had the reputation of serving the same purpose.
Stories about the Freischütz were especially common in Germany during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries; but the first time that the legend was turned to literary profit is said to have been by Johann August Apel
in the Gespensterbuch or Book of Ghosts. It formed the subject of Weber's
opera Der Freischütz
(1821), the libretto
of which was written by Johann Friedrich Kind
, who had suggested Apel's story as an excellent theme for the composer.
, in this story, After the 7th bullet shoots Wilhelm's mistress,Catherine, instead of his game,to which Wilhelm aimed at. and the devil triumphed at his misery. afterwards, Wilhelm marries another women at the end of the year, despite the fact that he swore an oath at Catherine's grave which stated that Wilhelm will remain single for rest of his life.
Out of grief, Wilhelm resigns himself to solitary excursion into the forest. as he rides, he hears the wild huntsman, his pack, and wolves chasing at him. then the thunderbolt throws Wilhelm from the horse. then, a mysterious voice commends Wilhelm to follow to a cavern. at that cavern, he sees many skeletons. one of them turns out to be Catherine's and then, Catherine waltzed with Wilhelm.
other skeletons joins the dance until daybreak. the following morning, Wilhelm is found dead with his horse gnawed by the wolves.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, is a marksman who, by a contract with the devil
Devil
The Devil is believed in many religions and cultures to be a powerful, supernatural entity that is the personification of evil and the enemy of God and humankind. The nature of the role varies greatly...
, has obtained a certain number of bullets destined to hit without fail whatever object he wishes. As the legend is usually told, six of the magic bullets (German: Freikugeln, literally "free bullets"), are thus subservient to the marksman's will, but the seventh is at the absolute disposal of the devil himself.
Various methods were adopted in order to procure possession of the marvelous missiles. According to one, the marksman, instead of swallowing the sacramental host, kept it and fixed it on a tree, shot at it and caused it to bleed great drops of blood. He then gathered the drops on a piece of cloth and reduced the whole to ashes, and then with these ashes added the requisite virtue to the lead of which his bullets were made. Various vegetable or animal substances had the reputation of serving the same purpose.
Stories about the Freischütz were especially common in Germany during the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries; but the first time that the legend was turned to literary profit is said to have been by Johann August Apel
Johann August Apel
Johann August Apel was a German writer and jurist.Apel was born in Leipzig. His tale Die Jägerbraut formed the basis for the libretto of Der Freischütz.- Works :* Die Aitolier...
in the Gespensterbuch or Book of Ghosts. It formed the subject of Weber's
Carl Maria von Weber
Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber was a German composer, conductor, pianist, guitarist and critic, one of the first significant composers of the Romantic school....
opera Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz
Der Freischütz is an opera in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Friedrich Kind. It premiered on 18 June 1821 at the Schauspielhaus Berlin...
(1821), the libretto
Libretto
A libretto is the text used in an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical. The term "libretto" is also sometimes used to refer to the text of major liturgical works, such as mass, requiem, and sacred cantata, or even the story line of a...
of which was written by Johann Friedrich Kind
Johann Friedrich Kind
Johann Friedrich Kind was a German dramatist, most famous for writing the libretto for Carl Maria von Weber's opera Der Freischütz .-Biography:...
, who had suggested Apel's story as an excellent theme for the composer.
Variations
One of the version of this story is called The Affianced Spectre by E.T.A. HoffmannE.T.A. Hoffmann
Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann , better known by his pen name E.T.A. Hoffmann , was a German Romantic author of fantasy and horror, a jurist, composer, music critic, draftsman and caricaturist...
, in this story, After the 7th bullet shoots Wilhelm's mistress,Catherine, instead of his game,to which Wilhelm aimed at. and the devil triumphed at his misery. afterwards, Wilhelm marries another women at the end of the year, despite the fact that he swore an oath at Catherine's grave which stated that Wilhelm will remain single for rest of his life.
Out of grief, Wilhelm resigns himself to solitary excursion into the forest. as he rides, he hears the wild huntsman, his pack, and wolves chasing at him. then the thunderbolt throws Wilhelm from the horse. then, a mysterious voice commends Wilhelm to follow to a cavern. at that cavern, he sees many skeletons. one of them turns out to be Catherine's and then, Catherine waltzed with Wilhelm.
other skeletons joins the dance until daybreak. the following morning, Wilhelm is found dead with his horse gnawed by the wolves.