A minnesinger is a secular musician from Germany. They flourished from the twelfth to the fourteenth century. They composed their lyrics in their native language, German.
Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170-1230) was most likely a knight from a German-speaking region of Europe, possibly Austria or Bohemia.
German:
Aller êrst lebe ich mir werde
Sît mîn sündic ouge siht
Daz reine lant und ouch die erde
Der man sô vil êren giht
Mirst geschehen des ich ie bat
Ich bin komen an die stat
Da got mennischlichen trat
Schæniu lant rîch unde hêre
Waz ich der noch han gesehen
Sô bist duz ir aller êre
Waz ist wunders hie geschehen!
Daz ein magt ein kint gebar
Here ubr aller engel schar
Waz daz niht ein wunder gar?
Daz in dô des niht verdrôz
Dast ein wunder alze grôz
Aller wunder übergnôz
English:
My life only now has a deeper meaning
These sinful eyes have gazed
Upon his holy ground
The land so greatly praised and deeply cherished
I now experience what I have long since prayed for
I have arrived where God, as man
Has walked among us
Many countries, mighty, rich and splendid
Have I seen
You shine above them all
So many wonderous things have happened here!
That a maiden has born a child
Lord of all the hosts of angels
Is that not a miracle?
We need not despair
For this mighty miracle
Is grander still than before.