Minnesang
DEFINITION
A tradition of Medieval courtly and secular music in Germany. The Minnesang tradition has many things in common with the traveling troubadour tradition, with the exception that the Minnesang was cultivated by the nobility. The main focus of the music of this tradition was the idea of Minnedienst, servitude to love, often illustrated as the devoted knight entirely loyal to an unattainable lady with no hope of her love in return. The theme of love was further broken down into hohiu minne, pure, holy love, and nideriu minne, physical love.