New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-10-17
Opera ViSneffes. No. II.
Webers Der Freschuetz"-The Wild Huntsman and His
Victims Mythology Folklore and German Politics


production IN the approaching season It Is nearly
sighty-ave years since & was first heard ga New
York The place the Park Theatre and the
Gate March 2. 1873. The opera only four years
old at this time. and. in conformity with the
custom OF the period. tho representation. which
IN English. doubt was a very different
sf1sir from that which the public VIII be invited
90 listen IN few weeks. But interesting 90
know that there win be at least one opera in the
Metropolitan list this season which antedates the
fnst Italian performance ever given in America
Even at that early day the scene upon which the
stage management the Metropolitan VIII surely
spend much money, ingenuity and energy, the
scene IN the VOLTS Glen, created a sensation The
world over Der Freischutz" is looked upon as
pscuiaTly the property OF the Germans. for rea-
sons which VIII appear presently. but q German
performances OF Il was not heard in New York I'll
fE5e when the opera was brought out under the
direction OF Carl Bergmann. the old Broadway
Theatre The Wild Huntsman has haunted the
Bowery since at intervals but his last appearance
al OF large operate institutions seems TO
have been one by the Walter Dsmrosch Company
a. the Academy OF Music IN 1886.
Though there dozen different points OF view
from which H'ebers opera Der Freischdtz' is or
fascinating interest is almost impossible for any
one except German 20 understand fully what the
opera means to the people from whose lons
the composer spTang and quite impossible 70 real
ere what Il 20 them at the time OF its produc
ron. der Frsischutz" is spoken OF IN all the
which the term might correctly and appropriately
he applied-German French. Italian. Bohemian,
Hungarian Russian-but there never was an opera,
and there Is likelihood that there ever will be
one intimately bound with the loves feelings,
sentiments emotions EuperstttiOns social customs
and racial characteristics OF people as this ls
wi.h the loves, feelings sentiments. emotions,
perstitons. social customs and racial characteTis-
tics OF the Germans In all its elements we'll
an its history It Is inextTicably intertwined with
Ehe 6bres OF German nationality. II could have
been written another time than Il was; Is could
not have been written by any other composer living
at that time Il could not have been conceived by
any artist not saturated with Germanism II Is
possible 10 argue ones self into belief OF these
things but only the German can feel them. Yet
there Is no investigator OF comparative mythology
and religion who ought not TO 80 90 the story OF
the opera 20 find illustration OF one OF the per-
vasive laws OF his science; there IS folkloTist
who ought not 20 be drawn 10 its subject; stu
Gent OF politics and sociology who cannot ind
valuable teachings IN its history; critic who
afford 10 ignore its significance In connection with
the evolution OF musical styles and schools; no
biograDher who fail 10 observe the kinship
which the opera establishes between the first
operate somanticist and him who brought the
mantle movement 10 its elimination; that is, be-
tween Carl Maria ven Weber and Richard Wagner
il IS fair subject for the study OF the scien
tc psychologist for. though the story OF the opera
IS generally supposed 10 be fanclful structure
reared on mythical and legendary foundation, Il
was a veritable happening which gave II currency
century ago and brought It 10 the notice OF the
composer; ana this happening may have ex-
iplanatiOn in some OF the psychcal phenomena 10
which modern science is again directing attention.
. such hypnotism, animal magnetism and the like
w / am here not al all fanciful Some thirty years
ago came across pamphlet published by Dr. J. G.
III. GrEssc, Saxon Court Councillor, in which he
traced the origin Of the story at the base OF 'DeI
I0reischttz' 10 a confession made open court il
a Bohemian town in i7lo GrGsse found the story
sn a book entitled Alonathliche Unterredungen au.
1880, the author OF which stated that he had drawn
the following statement OF facts from 5udicia
records: In ITO IN a town IN Bohemia, George
Schmid, a clerk. eighteen years Old who was
passionate lover OF target shooting, was persuade,
by a hunter 20 join IA an enterprise for MOULDING
magic bullets July 90 the being st. Alb
don's Day. The hunter promised 20 aid the young
man "a casting siXty-three bullets OF which sixt!
were 10 hit infallbly and three 20 miss just a
certainly The two provided themselves witt
coals moulds etc. and betOOk themselves At night
fall 10 a crossroads. There the hunter drew &
circle with his knife and placed mysterious char
zcters the meaning OF which HE companion diC
not know around the edge. This done, he told the
clerk 10 step within tie ring take of his clothing
snd make denial OF God and the Holy Trinity. The
bullets said the hunter, must al be cast between
n O'Clock ana midnight the clerk would fall into
the clutches OF the deVil. At Il o'clock the dead
Goals began 10 glow OF their own accord. and the
two men began the moulding, although al manner
OF ghOstly spDsTluons tried 10 hinder them. .
At last there cara horseul2R IN black. who de-
rnsnded the bullets which had been CAST. The
hunter refused 10 yield them up. and IN revenge
the horsemRn threw something into the which
sent out noisoms an odor that the two venture
some men fell half dead within the circle The
tuntsr escaped and. as il turned subsequently,,
setook himself 20 the SalzkammeTgut, near Sslz-
burg: but the clerk was found lying at the cross
roads and carried into town. There he made a
complete confession In court and because he had
had intercourse with the evil one, doubtless. was
condemned 10 be burned 10 death. In consideration
az hts youth however the sentence coInmuted
60 Imprisonment at hard labor for six years.
IN the legend Of the Wild Huntsinan. who under
she name Of Samel purchases the souls Of men
with his magic bullets. the follorist and
OF the evolution OF religions Of many evil
dencos OF ancient mythology perverted to bring II
unto The service OF Christianity. Originally the
WILD huntsTnon was Odin Tor Wotan). The mission
aries TO the Germans. finding il difficult 10 root
out belief IN the ancient deities gave their at
tributes saints a. a few cases, but for the
EVIL. II thus thar Frau Hole COR HoldaD be-
came wicked EenUs. Once she vas the most
benencent OF beings. who BY her blessing gave
fruitfalness 10 tie fields rewarded the industry OF
housemaids 81 giving them miraculous help when
their iabors were excessive guarded the souls OF
unborn children, and a later date, pagan though
ole was. carried babes VINO had died before re-
oelFlng baptism 70 the Holy Land and baptized
tnen herself with the waters OF the River Jordan
ANe3e were her gentle and amabie qualities and
% . the love which The German people felt
iof e. even after they had b.sn ,a,yb, .6., ehe
~ thing OF eva The Itt,- rno,,eS - 49,
AAs-S ard American children can lsd-,I,,,, ,,h.,
~ L-e DSs u our LADY,, The Germans syc,s.VEs
g'''"e~ 0nn me French La bette du bOn Dir, MAS
SIRED 10 fioos; and though the name OF the viz
go -1Hs vas bestowed upon il in the long aRo II
WHO Did IA Ai""