This piece, dating to around the middle of the 13th century, is the work of Tanhûser, a minnesinger possibly from the Austrian court of Vienna. The music is performed here by I Ciarlatani from the album "Codex Manesse", which encompasses many wonderful renditions of minnelieder from Medieval Germany and Austria:

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Vocals: Armin Gottstein
Fiddle, rebec: Russ Hodge
Recorder: Klaus Winkler

Tanhûser was one of the later minnesingers and therefore more of a satirist of the courtly love songs. This song parodies the absurdity of courtly service by describing a list of impossible requests from his lady. The list is clearly a drastic means for the lady to express her unattainability, yet the poet is not easily disheartened.

For the ardent lovers of Wagner operas, Tanhûser is the historical figure from whom the legend of Tannhäuser sprung. There is a great book by J. W. Thomas with all of the historical Tanhûser's extant work translated into English, as well as an insightful discussion of the poet's works and how they inspired the legend.

Below are the song's lyrics in Middle High German. I am mostly using J. W. Thomas's English translation:

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Steter dienest der ist guot
Den man schonen frowen tuot,
Als ich miner han getan.
Der muos ich den salamander bringen.
Eines hat si mir gebotten:
Daz ich schike ir abe den Rotten
Hin von provenz in das das lant
Ze nuerenberg; so mag mir wol gelingen.
Unde die Tuonouwe uber Rin,
Fuege ich das so tuot si swes ich muote.
Spriche ich ia si sprichet nein.
Sus so hellen wir en ein.
Dank so habe diu frowe min,
Sist geheissen Guote.
Heia hei!
Sist ze lange gewesen us miner huote.

Ia hiute unde iemer mere ia,
Heilalle unde aber ia.
Ziehent herze wafena.
Wie tuot mir diu liebe so
Diu reine unde diu vil guote?
Daz si mich niht machet fro,
Des ist mir we ze muote.

Mich fröit noch bas ein lieber wan,
Den ich von der schonen han:
So der Miuseberg zerge
Sam der sne, so lonet mir diu reine.
Alles des min herze gert
Des bin ich an ir gewert.
Minen willen tuot si gar
Buwe ich ir ein hus von helfenbeine
Swa si will uf einen se.
So habe ich ir friuntschaft unde ir hulde.
Bringe ich ir von Galylee,
Her an alle schulde,
Einen berk gefuoge ich daz
Da her Adan uffe sas—
Heia hei!
Daz were aller dienste ein uber gulde.

Ein boun stan in Yndian,
Gros den wil si von mir han.
Minen willen tuot si gar
Seht ob ich irs alles her gewinne:
Ich muos gewinnen ir den Gral,
Des da pflag her Parcyfal.
Unde den apfel den Paris
Gab dur minne Venus der güttine.
Unde den mantel der beslos
Gar die frowen diu ist unwandelbere.
Dannoch wil si wunder gros
Daz ist mir worden swere:
Ir ist nach der arke we
Diu beslossen hat Noe.
Heia hei!
Brehte ich die wie lieb ich danne were!

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Constant service one should render
To the ladies, fair and tender,
Just as I have done for mine.
I have to bring the salamander to her.
She required one thing of me:
That I divert the Rhône for her
From Provence to the land
Of Nuremburg; then I may well succeed.
And the Danube over the Rhine,
This done, she'll grant me all I have in mind.
I say "Yes!" and she says "No!"
We agree on all things so.
Let my lady be thanked,
That is why they call her Kind.
Heia hey!
She's been too long without my care, I find.

"Yes," today and always, "Yes!"
"Help me, help!" and still it's "Yes!"
Hearts, cry out in sore distress!
How can the dear one act so coy,
This perfect love of mine?
Since she will not bring me joy,
My heart must sadly pine.

This delights me even more,
A hope from her I so adore:
Should Mouse Mountain melt away
With its snow, the dear will grant me all.
Whatsoever I prefer
I shall freely get from her.
She'll be glad to do my will
If I build for her an ivory hall
Where she wants it, on a sea.
Then I'll have her friendship and her favor.
Should I bring from Galilee,
Unharmed in any way,
A mountain whereon Adam sat—
If I do for her all that—
Heia hey!
All other deeds could be surpassed, I'd say.

A lofty tree stands in India,
Which she wishes from my hands.
She'll do anything I ask
If—but see just what she's thinking of:
I must bring her without fail,
Parzival's mysterious Grail.
And the apple Paris gave
The Goddess Venus in exchange for love.
And the mantle which enclosed
Only her whose virtue has no stain.
Other wonders she's proposed
Which cause me bitter pain:
She must have the ark that bore
Noah in the days of yore.
Heia hey!
If I brought that what favors would I gain!

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Thank you,
Rex Falsus

Disclaimer: All the music and images in this video belong to their rightful owners and creators, to whom all credit goes. I am not making a profit from this video, but intend it purely for educational purposes and to expose more people to these wonderful works. I do not intend any copyright infringement and will gladly remove this video if asked to.

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