The Sound of Minnesang

“The Sound of Minnesang” is a deep dive into medieval lyricism, tracing the poetic and musical traditions of the German Minnesänger and their contemporaries. This playlist features a rich tapestry of courtly songs, devotional chants, and instrumental vignettes, performed by a wide array of early music ensembles and vocalists. Key figures like Walther von der Vogelweide, Oswald von Wolkenstein, and Neidhart von Reuental offer snapshots of chivalric romance, crusading fervor, seasonal reflection, and spiritual longing, often accompanied by period instruments like the lute, harp, and vielle.

Blended alongside these Minnesang selections are works from troubadours such as Bernart de Ventadorn and trouvères like Gace Brulé, as well as sacred compositions from Hildegard von Bingen and Otfrid von Weissenburg, which help paint a fuller picture of medieval musical culture. Whether it’s the famous “Palästinalied” rendered in multiple interpretations or the more obscure verses of Monks from Salzburg and Rügen, this mix of secular and sacred tracks evokes the atmosphere of castles, cloisters, and courts across the medieval world.