Weber's opera Der Freischütz
The legend of the Freischütz
In German legend, Freischütz is a marksman in possession of magic bullets (Freikugeln), six out of seven of which are, by the devil's agency, destined to hit any rnark chosen by their owner; the seventh is, however, at the disposal of the devil, and must hit the mark chosen by him. The legend was most widespread from the 14th to the 16th century. Appearing in Apel's Gespensterbuch (1810), it was afterwards utilized by Weber in the opera Der Freischütz. (1821).
