Der von Kürenberg or Der Kürenberger (fl. mid-12th century) was a Middle High German poet and one of the earliest Minnesänger. Fifteen strophes of his songs are preserved in the Codex Manesse and the Budapest Fragment.
Since his given name remains unknown ("Der" is not a name but a demonstrative pronoun), it is impossible to identify him in historical records. His social status also remains uncertain and the place name Kürenberg (literally "Mill Hill") is not uncommon.
Although he is placed among the barons ("Freiherren") in the hierarchical ordering of the Manesse Codex, the only known house of this status and name is documented in the Breisgau in the 11th Century. He more probably belongs to families of his name with vassal status ("Dienstmann"), attested in the area along the Danube around Melk and Linz in the mid-12th Century.[1][2]
A Danubian origin is also supported by his use of a strophic form identical to that later used in the Nibelungenlied, the "Nibelungenstrophe".[3]
His work is dated on literary-historical grounds to the earliest phase of Minnesang, around 1150–1160.[3]
Work
The 15 strophes of Der von Kürenberg's lyrics in the Codex Manesse, folio 63v.
Manuscripts
Kürenberg's songs are preserved in two manuscripts:
The Budapest Fragment (Bu), late 13th century, Danubian, contains 9 strophes by Kürenberg, the same as the first nine in C.[4] This manuscript was discovered only in 1985 and is therefore unknown to earlier scholarship.
The text of the manuscripts is clearly defective in a number of places.[5]
Form
The manuscripts do not group the strophes, and they are usually regarded as standing alone, rather than forming the multi-strophe poems typical of later Minnesang. However, the first two strophes, which differ in form from the rest, seem to for a "Wechsel", that is a song with a strophe from each of a pair of lovers. The two strophes of the "Falkenlied" ("falcon song") clearly belong together. Possibly other pairs of strophes belong together, even though separated in the manuscripts, but this is not amenable to a definitive conclusion.[3]
The rhymes are not always pure: for example, Kürenberg rhymes zinne:singen and liep:niet. This distinguishes the Danubian poets from later Minnesänger.
Content
His poems were most likely written before the concept of ideal courtly love was formulated. As their subject they have a more direct and less stylized relationship. Some are in dialogue form (Wechsel). The best known poem is the "falcon song". It is possible that both stanzas were spoken by a woman. His poetry, as well as that of Dietmar von Eist (Aist), suggest that there may have existed a poetic form indigenous to the Upper Germany/Austria territory before the impact of the Provençal influence.
His poems contrast sharply with those of the later convention. So much so that some have been tempted to suggest that he disapproved of them. (But as Walsche says: This would be presuming too much). His poems are composed almost exclusively in an old Danubic form which is called the Nibelungenstrophe (the Germanic long-line). In one of the poems a woman stands and listens to the song of one knight among all the others. The knight sings "in Kürenberges wise". She states that "either he must leave the country, or she will enjoy his love." The poet's response is to call for his horse and armour and flee. This lady is unique in the poetry of the time in that she wishes to compel the knight's love and seeks to fulfill the promised eroticism of the knight's song. Strangely, one is left with the feeling that the knight was shocked to have been taken seriously. Der von Kürenberg paints bold images with few words and creates men and women who are bold and confident. The impression he leaves seems more true to what one might expect the men and women of a warrior-aristocracy to be like than that portrayed in the following generation's poetry.
Example Text
The "Falkenlied"
Ich zôch mir einen valken mêre danne ein jâr. dô ich in gezamete als ich in wolte hân und ich im sîn gevidere mit golde wol bewant, er huop sich ûf vil hôhe und floug in anderiu lant.
Sît sach ich den valken schône fliegen: er fuorte an sînem fuoze sîdîne riemen, und was im sîn gevidere alrôt guldîn. got sende si zesamene die gerne geliep wellen sin![6]
I brought up a falcon for more than a year. When I had him tamed as I wanted And when I had adorned his feathers with gold, He raised himself up high and flew to another land.
Since then I have seen the falcon flying: He wore silken jesses on his feet, And his feathers were all red-gold. God bring together those who want to love each other!
Lachmann, Karl; Haupt, Moritz; Vogt, Friedrich, eds. (1888). "II: Der von Kürenberg". Des Minnesangs Frühling (4 ed.). Leipzig: Hirzel. pp. 7–10. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
Bartsch, Karl; Golther, Wolfgang, eds. (1893). "I: Der von Kürenberg". Deutsche Liederdichter des 12. bis 14. Jahrhunderts (4 ed.). Stuttgart: G.J. Göschen. pp. 1–7. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
Agler-Beck, Gayle (1978). Der von Kürenberg: Edition, Notes, Commentary. German Language and Literature Monographs, 4. Amsterdam: Benjamins. ISBN9789027281364. Google Books (Extract)
Moser, Hugo; Tervooren, Helmut, eds. (1988). "II: Der von Kürenberg". Des Minnesangs Frühling. Vol. I: Texts (38 ed.). Stuttgart: Hirzel. pp. 24–27. ISBN3777604488. (The only edition to include the text of the Budapest Fragment.)
Further reading
Rosenfeld, Hellmut (1982), "Der von Kürenberg", Neue Deutsche Biographie (in German), vol. 13, Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, p. 232; (full text online)
Schumacher, Meinolf (2010), Einführung in die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, ISBN978-3-534-19603-6, p. 123-124.
Schweikle G (1984). "Kürenberg". In Ruh K, Keil G, Schröder W (eds.). Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters. Verfasserlexikon. Vol. 5. Berlin, New York: Walter De Gruyter. pp. 454–461. ISBN978-3-11-022248-7.
Weil, Bernd, 1985. Das Falkenlied des Kürenbergers. Frankfurt am Main.
Yang, Peter, 1992. Des Kürenbergers Falkenlied: Eine Interpretation. Utah Foreign Language Review. Vol.1992-1993: 164−78.
Kürenberg's Poems, Bibliotheca Augustana (in German)
January 06, 2023
kürenberg, kürenberger, 12th, century, middle, high, german, poet, earliest, minnesänger, fifteen, strophes, songs, preserved, codex, manesse, budapest, fragment, codex, manesse, 14th, century, contents, life, work, manuscripts, form, content, example, text, n. Der von Kurenberg or Der Kurenberger fl mid 12th century was a Middle High German poet and one of the earliest Minnesanger Fifteen strophes of his songs are preserved in the Codex Manesse and the Budapest Fragment Der von Kurenberg Codex Manesse 14th Century Contents 1 Life 2 Work 2 1 Manuscripts 2 2 Form 2 3 Content 3 Example Text 4 Notes 5 Editions 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife EditSince his given name remains unknown Der is not a name but a demonstrative pronoun it is impossible to identify him in historical records His social status also remains uncertain and the place name Kurenberg literally Mill Hill is not uncommon Although he is placed among the barons Freiherren in the hierarchical ordering of the Manesse Codex the only known house of this status and name is documented in the Breisgau in the 11th Century He more probably belongs to families of his name with vassal status Dienstmann attested in the area along the Danube around Melk and Linz in the mid 12th Century 1 2 A Danubian origin is also supported by his use of a strophic form identical to that later used in the Nibelungenlied the Nibelungenstrophe 3 His work is dated on literary historical grounds to the earliest phase of Minnesang around 1150 1160 3 Work Edit The 15 strophes of Der von Kurenberg s lyrics in the Codex Manesse folio 63v Manuscripts Edit Kurenberg s songs are preserved in two manuscripts The Codex Manesse C c 1310 contains 15 strophes by Kurenberg and a miniature The Budapest Fragment Bu late 13th century Danubian contains 9 strophes by Kurenberg the same as the first nine in C 4 This manuscript was discovered only in 1985 and is therefore unknown to earlier scholarship The text of the manuscripts is clearly defective in a number of places 5 Form Edit The manuscripts do not group the strophes and they are usually regarded as standing alone rather than forming the multi strophe poems typical of later Minnesang However the first two strophes which differ in form from the rest seem to for a Wechsel that is a song with a strophe from each of a pair of lovers The two strophes of the Falkenlied falcon song clearly belong together Possibly other pairs of strophes belong together even though separated in the manuscripts but this is not amenable to a definitive conclusion 3 The rhymes are not always pure for example Kurenberg rhymes zinne singen and liep niet This distinguishes the Danubian poets from later Minnesanger Content Edit His poems were most likely written before the concept of ideal courtly love was formulated As their subject they have a more direct and less stylized relationship Some are in dialogue form Wechsel The best known poem is the falcon song It is possible that both stanzas were spoken by a woman His poetry as well as that of Dietmar von Eist Aist suggest that there may have existed a poetic form indigenous to the Upper Germany Austria territory before the impact of the Provencal influence His poems contrast sharply with those of the later convention So much so that some have been tempted to suggest that he disapproved of them But as Walsche says This would be presuming too much His poems are composed almost exclusively in an old Danubic form which is called the Nibelungenstrophe the Germanic long line In one of the poems a woman stands and listens to the song of one knight among all the others The knight sings in Kurenberges wise She states that either he must leave the country or she will enjoy his love The poet s response is to call for his horse and armour and flee This lady is unique in the poetry of the time in that she wishes to compel the knight s love and seeks to fulfill the promised eroticism of the knight s song Strangely one is left with the feeling that the knight was shocked to have been taken seriously Der von Kurenberg paints bold images with few words and creates men and women who are bold and confident The impression he leaves seems more true to what one might expect the men and women of a warrior aristocracy to be like than that portrayed in the following generation s poetry Example Text EditThe Falkenlied Ich zoch mir einen valken mere danne ein jar do ich in gezamete als ich in wolte han und ich im sin gevidere mit golde wol bewant er huop sich uf vil hohe und floug in anderiu lant Sit sach ich den valken schone fliegen er fuorte an sinem fuoze sidine riemen und was im sin gevidere alrot guldin got sende si zesamene die gerne geliep wellen sin 6 I brought up a falcon for more than a year When I had him tamed as I wanted And when I had adorned his feathers with gold He raised himself up high and flew to another land Since then I have seen the falcon flying He wore silken jesses on his feet And his feathers were all red gold God bring together those who want to love each other Notes Edit Schweikle 1984 p 455 Agler Beck 1978 pp 31 34 a b c Schweikle 1984 p 456 Moser amp Tervooren 1988 p 460 Schweikle 1984 p 460 Moser amp Tervooren 1988 p 25 Editions EditLachmann Karl Haupt Moritz Vogt Friedrich eds 1888 II Der von Kurenberg Des Minnesangs Fruhling 4 ed Leipzig Hirzel pp 7 10 Retrieved 7 February 2016 Bartsch Karl Golther Wolfgang eds 1893 I Der von Kurenberg Deutsche Liederdichter des 12 bis 14 Jahrhunderts 4 ed Stuttgart G J Goschen pp 1 7 Retrieved 7 February 2016 Agler Beck Gayle 1978 Der von Kurenberg Edition Notes Commentary German Language and Literature Monographs 4 Amsterdam Benjamins ISBN 9789027281364 Google Books Extract Moser Hugo Tervooren Helmut eds 1988 II Der von Kurenberg Des Minnesangs Fruhling Vol I Texts 38 ed Stuttgart Hirzel pp 24 27 ISBN 3777604488 The only edition to include the text of the Budapest Fragment Further reading EditRosenfeld Hellmut 1982 Der von Kurenberg Neue Deutsche Biographie in German vol 13 Berlin Duncker amp Humblot p 232 full text online Schumacher Meinolf 2010 Einfuhrung in die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters Darmstadt Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft ISBN 978 3 534 19603 6 p 123 124 Schweikle G 1984 Kurenberg In Ruh K Keil G Schroder W eds Die deutsche Literatur des Mittelalters Verfasserlexikon Vol 5 Berlin New York Walter De Gruyter pp 454 461 ISBN 978 3 11 022248 7 Weil Bernd 1985 Das Falkenlied des Kurenbergers Frankfurt am Main Yang Peter 1992 Des Kurenbergers Falkenlied Eine Interpretation Utah Foreign Language Review Vol 1992 1993 164 78 External links EditDer von Kurenberg in the German National Library catalogue Der von Kurenberg Codex Manesse in German Kurenberg s Poems Bibliotheca Augustana in German Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Der von Kurenberg amp oldid 1071782465, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
