The ''Urner Tellspiel'' (german: Tell Play of Uri) is the earliest surviving written version of a
William Tell play.
The debut performance of ''Urner Tellspiel'' (whose full title reads ''Ein hüpsch Spyl gehalten zuo Ury in der Eydgnoschafft'') was probably held in winter 1512/1513 in
Altdorf, Uri.
[Bergier, p. 76.]
However, it cannot be precluded that the story of William Tell was already frequently performed during the 15th century in an impromptu way and without standard text dialogues, following the example of the
commedia dell'arte
(; ; ) was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is also known as , , and . Charact ...
.
[Bergier, p. 76.]
Apparently, the ''Urner Tellspiel'' was inspired to a great degree by the ''
Song of the Founding of the Confederation'' (German: ''Lied von der Entstehung der Eidgenossenschaft'') as well as by
Petermann Etterlin's ''
Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation
The ''Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation'' (german: Kronika von der loblichen Eydtgenossenschaft) is the oldest printed chronicle of ''Switzerland''.Bergier, p. 77.
The ''Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation'' was written by Petermann Ette ...
'' (German: ''Kronika von der loblichen Eydtgenossenschaft'').
[Bergier, p. 76.]
The ''Urner Tellspiel'' was frequently performed and revised during the last five centuries.
[Bergier, p. 76.] Its popularity, for instance, is attested by a letter of the
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
* Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
* Swiss, North Carolina
*Swiss, West Virginia
* Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
*Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
*Swiss Internation ...
reformer
Huldrych Zwingli to his friend
Valentin Compar in which Zwingli, a great admirer of this early Tell play, praised William Tell as "der gotskrefftig held und erster anheber eidgnossischer fryheit ..., ursprung und stiffter einer loblichen Eydgnoschafft".
[Bergier, p. 76.]
References
*Bergier, Jean-François. ''Wilhelm Tell: Realität und Mythos''. München: Paul List Verlag, 1990.
{{William Tell
16th century in the Old Swiss Confederacy
Altdorf, Uri
Cultural depictions of William Tell
Plays set in Switzerland