Minnesingers

The German equivalents of the Troubadours and the Trouvères were the Minnesingers, who were active between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries.

In general, the songs of the Minnesingers tended to have a more serious tone than the songs of the Troubadours and Trouvères, but there were exceptions.

The Minnesingers used some of the same song forms as the Troubadours and Trouvères did.

The tagelied was the Minnesinger's term for what Troubadours called an alba.

The leich was similar to the Trouvère lay.

Famous Minnesingers

One of the earliest minnesingers that we know of was Spervogel.

Neidhart von Reuental wrote a collection of winter songs and summer songs.  These resembled folk songs and were designed for dancing.

Walther von der Vogelweide is known for his song Nu alerst lebe ich, which is believed to be about the crusade of 1228. In this song, von der Vogelweide says that it was not until the saw the Holy Land that he began to appreciate life.

Heinrich von Meissen is the author of Unser frauen leich, or "The leich of our lady." This song takes the form of a song about courtly love. However, the song is clearly about the Virgin Mary, rather than an ordinary woman from the singer's life. Von Meissen was known as Frauenlob because he used the word "frau" for woman rather then the word "weib".

Witzlav von Rügen is the author of the love song We ich han gedacht, which is known for its soaring melody.

Tannhäuser wrote Ez ist hiute eyen wunnychlicher tac. This is a religious song, in which the singer says that he will be joyful on the day he dies if God grants him atonement.

The Monk of Salzburg left over 100 songs, both religious and secular. Untarn slaf tut den summer wol has a melody that is supposed to replicate the sound of primitive alpine horns.

Oswald von Wolkenstein also wrote over 100 pieces.  Von Wolkenstein was a member of the nobility and traveled around Europe with Emperor Sigismund, so he was exposed to many different varieties of music. However, he generally stuck to traditional German forms.

Von Wolkenstein wrote many songs for the woman he loved, Margarete.

He also wrote about many subjects besides love. Ain purger und ain hofman is a song about class differences.  Und swig ich nu is set in a tavern.