Neidhart was one of the most popular Minnesingers—or “poet-musicians”—of the late Middle Ages. His songs deal with rustic, erotic and violent topics mediated, however, through court culture, which gives them a stylised, ironic sense of detachment. The instrumental music carries a rural character. The “Frankfurt Fragment” manuscript has never been recorded in full, before.

Els Janssens-Vanmunster (B/F) - voice

Baptiste Romain (F/CH) - vielle, bagpipes

Marc Lewon (D) - voice, lute, gittern, vielle

"Neidhart was one of the most popular Minnesingers—or “poet-musicians”—of the late Middle Ages. His songs deal with rustic, erotic and violent topics mediated, however, through court culture, which gives them a stylised, ironic sense of detachment. His division of songs into “summer” or “winter” adds another layer of complexity, with melancholy or dance-orientated topics prevailing, depending on the season. The instrumental music carries a rural character. The “Frankfurt Fragment” manuscript has never been recorded in full, and is here performed by one of the most outstanding ensembles in the field." (taken from the NAXOS website)

PDF-Download of all sung texts with an English and modern German translation.

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