Sources:
(text) after the edition by Karl Kurt Klein "Die Lieder Oswalds
von Wolkenstein", 2nd ed., Tübingen, 1975
(music) Oswald B manuscript (Innsbruck) with occasional variants
from A manuscript (Vienna)
Performers:
Sequentia, Ensemble für Musik des Mittelalters
Barbara Thornton (voice), Benjamin Bagby (voice), Elizabeth Gaver
(fiddle), Rainer Ullreich (fiddle)
Barbara Thornton & Benjamin Bagby, dirs.
Playing time: 71'
Recording site and date:
Empore des Westwerks, St. Pantaleon, Köln [1/1993];
Rel.: 1993
Reviewed in:
Fanfare (Vol./#-p.): 17/6- (July/Aug.1994)
Oswald von Wolkenstein was a major composer of the beginning of the 15th century. Poet, nobleman, diplomat, the songs he wrote and presented here reflect the variety of his life. The subjects touched on are a mirror of his development, and are philosophical, biographical, full of love or of humor. The 3rd track gives from him the image of a traveller, and mixes seven different languages to prove it. This track is by the way an excellent introduction to the style, very attaching of that composer. The crystal pure voice of Barbara Thornton is as always a pure delight to hear. The track 9, for example, after a lively introduction, shows the extent and quality of her voice. And definitely, hear the first track for a quick overview of the beauties concealed in this wonderful CD.
Bruno CornecOswald is unusual for artists of his time for having been an aristocrat, and deeply involved with many of the political events of his time. As such he continues the tradition of the earlier troubadours. Indeed his output is primarily monophonic songs (as here), although he did set some new texts to polyphonic music by other (French & Italian) composers. Some of his songs have more of a spoken quality (spruchdichtung), and form a continuum with his surviving poetry.
Some other major recordings devoted to Wolkenstein:
Wolkenstein (1376-1445) was essentially a transitional figure in the history of German song. The earlier Minnesingers proper, such as leading figures Walther von der Vogelweide (c.1170-c.1230) & Neidhart von Reuental (c.1180-c.1240), incorporated troubadour idioms from the Romance languages into the German court context. This is considered the golden age of German minnesang. A recording devoted to Neidhart:
The tradition continued to develop in the hands of such composers as Heinrich von Meissen (c.1250/60-1318), Mönch von Salzburg (fl.c.1400) and others, leading up to the transitional style of Wolkenstein. Recordings:
Following this period and moving into the Renaissance, minnesang gave way to the meistersinger style as made famous by Richard Wagner. A major recording:
Other recordings featuring a variety of German material from this period:
See also the very under construction minnesang discography, for a variety of more obscure entries. See also some related citations in the links above.
Finally, the previous volume in Sequentia's series of German medieval music:
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Todd M. McComb