''Ir sult sprechen willekomen'' is a poem by Walther von der Vogelweide. Thematically, it does neither fully belong to the '' Minnesang'' nor to the '' Sangspruchdichtung'', but it commingles both forms.
In the 19th century, the poem was rediscovered by German nationalists and even served as an inspiration for Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben and his "
Deutschlandlied
The "" (; "Song of Germany"), officially titled "" (; "The Song of the Germans"), has been the national anthem of Germany either wholly or in part since 1922, except for a seven-year gap following World War II in West Germany. In East German ...
".
Since 1973, Alois Kircher's theory that Walther in this poem was repudiating an attack by Peire Vidal, who had denigrated the Germans in his 37th ''Chanson''''Alamans trob deschauzitz e vilans ; E quand negus si feing esser cortes, Ira motals cozens et enois es ; E lor parlars sembla lairar de cans…''
"I find the Germans undistinguished and crude; when one of them makes pretensions to be courteous, It is a mortal punishment and a painful sorrow, and their speech is like the barking of dogs." and had praised Provence as the land "from the Rhône to Vence, and from the sea up to the
Durance
The Durance (; ''Durença'' in the Occitan classical norm or ''Durènço'' in the Mistralian norm) is a major river in Southeastern France. A left tributary of the Rhône, it is long. Its drainage basin is .
Ougenweide
Ougenweide was a German progressive rock band. They are notable for being pioneers of the medieval folk rock subgenre. (In German) The name comes from Middle High German ''ougenweide'' (Augenweide - ''feast for the eyes'').
Band history The b ...
(1976) is based on this poem. The original tune, however, has not been preserved.
Notes
References
* Alois Kircher: ''Dichter und Konvention. Zum gesellschaftlichen Realitätsproblem der deutschen Lyrik um 1200'' (Literatur in der Gesellschaft 18). Düsseldorf 1973.
* Wolfgang Mohr: ''Die ‚vrouwe‘ Walthers von der Vogelweide''. In: ''Zeitschrift für Deutsche Philologie'' 86 (1967).
* Hermann Reichert: ''Walther von der Vogelweide für Anfänger''. 3rd, revised volume. facultas.wuv, Vienna 2009,
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Works by Walther von der VogelweideGerman patriotic songsYear of song unknown