The ''Urner Tellspiel'' () is the earliest surviving written version of a

William Tell William Tell (, ; ; ; ) is a legendary folk hero of Switzerland. He is known for shooting an apple off his son's head. According to the legend, Tell was an expert mountain climber and marksman with a crossbow who assassinated Albrecht Gessler, ...

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 Altdorf () is a Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in Switzerland. It is the capital of the Cantons of Switzerland, Swiss canton of Canton of Uri, Uri and retains historic town privileges. It is the place where, according to the legend, ...

.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 Commedia dell'arte was an early form of professional theatre, originating from Theatre of Italy, Italian theatre, that was popular throughout Europe between the 16th and 18th centuries. It was formerly called Italian comedy in English and is a ...

.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 Petermann Etterlin (c. 1430/40 – c. 1509) was born in Lucerne, Switzerland, as the son of Egloff Etterlin, who served as chronicler of the city of Lucerne from 1427 to 1453.Müller, p. 397. Although his parents had destined him for an eccl ...

's ''

Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation The ''Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation'' () is the oldest printed chronicle of ''Switzerland''.Bergier, p. 77. The ''Chronicle of the Swiss Confederation'' was written by Petermann Etterlin’s from Lucerne.Bergier, p. 77. Accord ...

'' (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 most commonly refers to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Swiss may also refer to: Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina * Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses * Swiss Café, an old café located ...

reformer

Huldrych Zwingli Huldrych or Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) was a Swiss Christian theologian, musician, and leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. Born during a time of emerging Swiss patriotism and increasing criticism of the Swis ...

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