Reinmar der Alte

Reinmar der Alte (also R. von Hagenau): Next to Walther von der Vogelweide, the most important minnesinger around 1200. Court poet in Vienna; carries the epithet "the Old" to distinguish him from later singers (e.g. Reinmar von Zweter). worked in the tradition of the Rhineland Minnesong; his work is regarded as the climax but also the final phase in the development of minne poetry in the 12^th century. Central theme of his work is the Hohe Minne. His feud with Walther expressed itself in an aesthetic, programmatic competition about proper courtship and praise of women. The great ballad collections (A, B and C) contain 19-64 songs in his name. Apart from minne songs, he also created comic tales, 2 crusade songs and a lament; the melodies have not been preserved.

Editions: H. Moser and H. Tervooren (eds.), Des Minnesangs Frühling, ³⁸1988; G. Schweikle (ed.), R. d. A., Lieder (mittel- und neuhochdt.), 1986.

Literature: M. Stange, Reinmars Lyrik, 1977; A. Hausmann, R. d. A. als Autor, 1999.