Occitan troubadours, Northern French trouvères and Minnesingers from German-speaking regions all sang of courtly love. As singers of love, they performed the heartache of impossible love. Ensemble Céladon under the direction of Paulin Bündgen devoted their latest CD (RIC447) in the ear. to this German tradition.

The tradition of the Minnesinger emerged from the French examples of troubadours and trouvères. Just as with the French predecessors, it was often a knight who sang of his love for a noble lady. Beloved themes were loyalty (loyalty) and restrained propriety (maze). The French tradition was characterized by strict rules. The first German poetic genres were originally derived from these French examples but over the course of the 13th century the German singers gradually emancipated themselves from the French genres and differentiated themselves further. Minnesingers developed their own styles and forms. It is precisely this lofty and late minnesong that is on offer on the CD. (RIC447) in the ear. Walther von der Vogelweide (Codex Manesse)

The album bears the title of the final song. Remarkably, this is an early example from the delimited period. The song is by Walther von der Vogelweide (1170-1230), one of the most famous singers (the so-called "twelve old masters") from German-speaking regions. He was not only known during his lifetime but also when medieval music was rediscovered, his name was mentioned multiple times in association with the minnesinger tradition. Richard Wagner (1813-1883) also refers to him by name in "Am stillen Herd" from the opera

Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1867) in connection with Walther von der Vogelweide. The chosen song

[track 11] is sung on this album by Clara Coutouly and Paulin Bündgen. The music is strophic and accompanied sparingly. All attention can focus on the text. With careful articulation and textual expression, Coutouly and Bündgen sing the stanzas. It is clear that much attention was paid to text intelligibility. (RIC447) in the ear. Under der linden on the heath,

where our two lay,
there you might find
there you can find it
beautiful broken flowers and grass.

before the forest in a valley –
tandaradei!
beautiful sang the nightingale.

Under the linden trees on the heath,
where our two beds stood,
there we had to
search for beautiful broken flowers and grass.

before the forest in a valley –
tandaradei!
beautiful sang the nightingale.

Clara Coutouly and Paulin Bündgen also open the CD together with one of the great names among the minnesingers. The music of Konrad von Würzburg (1225/30-1287, also an "old master") is an example of late minnesingerei. The chosen song When I practice the sound of the strings [track 01] is atypical for Würzburg. In this poem he writes in the first person and integrates quite a few autobiographical elements about singing and playing music as a Minnesänger. Appropriately, Ensemble Céladon chose to start this performance with a lute solo. This intro already gives voice to the text before it is sung. Plus the singer then sings about the tradition that this CD focuses on. A striking artistic choice to open the album with this metalied.

Only from the late minnesingerei did custom sometimes give way to eroticism. Avianuß the free poet [track 06] by Tannhäuser (fl. 1245-1265) is an example where erotic elements also make their entrance. Presumably because of the text, an instrumental arrangement of the song was chosen.

Brother Wernher (Codex Manesse)

In the German-speaking regions, in contrast to the French troubadours and trouvères, a variant singing tradition also emerged that did not focus on courtly love. Sayings does not sing of love but provides socio-political commentary. The musical style is similar but the content is in practice often a counterpoint to the Minnesängers. Space has been made for this parallel tradition on the album.

I build a house [track 04] by Brother Wernher is an example of the Sayings which musically runs parallel to the late minnesingerei. It is a typical Wernher song and, like all his other songs, has Christian morality and ethics as its subject. It is, however, a remarkably long song. No less than 15 minutes long. There is only one other song on the album that also has this length, You behold the tiny ants [track 07] by Konrad Marner (1270-?) which is also a Sayingssong is. Just as with the minnesingers, lyrical clarity is essential for a successful performance.

This CD provides an overview of the German-language musical tradition from the 13th century. Both the Minnesinger and Sprücherepertoires are represented. Music from the well-known "twelve old masters" as well as from lesser-known composers is featured. When putting together the program, clear attention was paid to the overall picture. It's no simple task to compress a century of music into just over an hour. Yet Ensemble Céladon under the direction of Paulin Bündgen manages to provide a beautiful and comprehensive overview with their album (RIC447) in the ear. a beautiful and comprehensive overview.

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• WHO: Ensemble Céladon conducted by Paulin Bündgen
• WHAT: (RIC447) in the ear.
• PUBLICATIONS: Ricercar RIC447
• ORDER: JPC