Der von Kürenberg

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Der von Kürenberg (Codex Manesse, 14th Century)

Der von Kürenberg or Der Kürenberger (Kuerenberg, Kuerenberger, fl. mid-12th century) was an Austrian poet, and one of the first named poets to write in German.

1 Life
2 Work
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Life

Like Ava, the first named female poet writing in German, der Kürenberger lived and worked in the area along the Danube river between Bavaria and Lower Austria. Conventionally he is associated with Linz. He was of knightly family and one of the early travelling singers (Minnesinger) common in this area.

[edit] Work

His poems were written in Middle High German between 1150 and 1170. Fourteen or fifteen of his verses have been preserved in the Codex Manesse, some of which may belong together as poems; the Falcon Song ("Falkenlied") below is the best known. Sometimes he is cited as the author of the Nibelungenlied, on the basis of the similarity of verse form, although on grounds of chronology this is extremely unlikely.

Original text	English translation
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!	I brought up a falcon for more than a year. When I had tamed him as I wanted And when I had adorned his plumage with gold, He upped away into the sky to fly to another country. Since then I have seen saw the falcon flying: He wore silken jesses on his feet, And his plumage was all red and gold. May God bring together those who are willing to love each other!