WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE,   

Walther von der Vogelweide, a contemporary of the historical Robin Hood, a “Minnesinger” in the German troubadour tradition, was born in Austria about the year 1170 and spent his life in the service of a series of noblemen, kings and emperors, recognised as one of the leading poets of his generation. His Paliistinalied (Palestine Song) is the only work of his for which the original melody has been preserved and in its words describes the Holy Land, which the poet may have visited with the crusading Emperor Friedrich II.