Minnesang - Walther von der Vogelweide : Nu alrest lebe ich mir werde

[jensbuhler]

Palaestinalied, is that you?

[EmanonElazon]

Recall that Minnesang, while etymologically derived from "minne", middle high German for courtly love, from a historical standpoint, does not refer just to love songs, but to the bardic traditions of Germany at this time. If you translate the text as well, you will find that Walther von der Vogelweide justifies nothing. He expresses the splendor of the Holy Land and laments the violence tearing the area apart, asking God to judge the combatants.

[apfel61]

11. Kristen, juden unde heiden jehent, daz diz ir erbe sî: got müeze ez ze rehte scheiden durch die sîne namen drî. Al diu werlt diu strîtet her. Wir sîn an der rehten ger: reht ist, daz er uns gewer.

[apfel61]

7. Dô er den tievel dô geschande, daz nie keiser baz gestreit, dô fuor er her wider ze lande. Dô huob sich der juden leit, daz er herre ir huote brach, und daz man in sît lebendic sach, den ir hant sluoc unde stach.

[apfel61]

4. Hie liez er sich reine toufen, daz der mensche reine sî. Dô liez er sich hie verkoufen, daz wir eigen wurden frî. Anders wæren wir verlorn. Wol dir, sper, kriuze unde dorn! Wê dir, heiden, daz ist dir zorn!

[apfel61]

2. Schœniu lant rîch unde hêre, swaz ich der noch hân gesehen, sô bist dûz ir aller êre. Waz ist wunders hie geschehen! Daz ein maget ein kint gebar, hêre über aller engel schar, was daz niht ein wunder gar?

[apfel61]

1. Nû lebe ich mir alrêrst werde, sît mîn sündic ouge sihet daz hêre lant und ouch die erde, der man vil der êren gihet. Nû ist geschehen, des ich ie bat: ich bin komen an die stat, dâ got mennischlîchen trat.

[Durge1000]

@Gonnakillyou This is no political song. This is a religious song about what Christ did in the Holy Land and that this ist the message of eternal Hail...

[Gonnakillyou]

I don't think this song qualifies as Minnesang.

[Eric1Boul]

@Gonnakillyou - Can you be more specific? Why doesn't it qualify as a Minnesang?

[Gonnakillyou]

@Eric1Boul Because it's not about Minne. :) It's a political song, not a love song.

[SuperMR7474]

@Gonnakillyou It derfinitly is a minnesang...Walter von der Vogelweide is the best example for Minne.

Minne doesnt necessary mean that it has to be about love...

[KuroiKai]

@SuperMR7474 This is indeed not a Minnesang. Minnesang tells always a lovestory or praises a venerable woman. Minne wasn't written to earn money, but to honor a woman. But there were other songs beside the Minnesang, which had political backgrounds. This song is one of them, it was written as a propaganda-song for the crusades and the right title is "Palästinalied". Walther von der Vogelweide is most known for writting both types.

[eddings33]

@SuperMR7474 I fear this is not correct. "Minne" is middlehigh-German for love, courtly love. Therefor Minnesang is always about courtly love. Von der Vogelweide's "Palästinalied however is a propaganda song to justify the crusades

[Winthor123]

@Eric1Boul It's not about love.

[bandsasquatch]

great