Palästinalied
Encyclopedia
Palästinalied is a song written by Walther von der Vogelweide
, the most celebrated German
mediaeval lyric poet
. Its subject matter is Palestine
and the crusades
. It is Walther's only song where not only the text but also the original tune was handed down to modern times. The full song consists of 13 strophe
s in Middle High German
. Modern performers usually use only a few of these strophes.
Palästinalied was written in connection with the Fifth Crusade
(1217-1221). Although it is a political-religious propaganda
song describing a crusade into the Holy Land
, it is atypical for a song of this kind in that it also recognizes the claim of all Abrahamic religions to the Holy Land, although finally asserting that the Christian cause is the "right one" in the last strophe:
This strophe can be translated as follows: Christians, Jews and Heathens claim this to be their heritage. God has to assign it in the right way, for His three names. The whole world is coming battling here - our cause is right. It is right that He is granting it to us.
With the increased popularity of Medieval rock
, Neofolk
and related musical styles in the late 1980s and 1990s, Palästinalied became a sort of staple song for such genres and is now well known to modern audiences due to performances by mainly German bands, including
The German medieval-EBM fusion act Heimataerde
also used the melody from "Palästinalied" as the bagpipe-lead in the song "Deus Lo Vult" from their first album, Gotteskrieger. Other similar groups to cover the song have been Saltatio Mortis
and Pilgrimage.
The Austrian Ensemble for Early Music Dulamans Vröudenton performs "Palästinalied" in a strictly authentic way: Listen/Anhören
Lou Harrison
's String Quartet Set's 1st movement takes much of its melody from this song.
Unto Ashes video for Palästinalied
Walther von der Vogelweide
Walther von der Vogelweide is the most celebrated of the Middle High German lyric poets.-Life history:For all his fame, Walther's name is not found in contemporary records, with the exception of a solitary mention in the travelling accounts of Bishop Wolfger of Erla of the Passau diocese:...
, the most celebrated German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
mediaeval lyric poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Its subject matter is Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and the crusades
Crusades
The Crusades were a series of religious wars, blessed by the Pope and the Catholic Church with the main goal of restoring Christian access to the holy places in and near Jerusalem...
. It is Walther's only song where not only the text but also the original tune was handed down to modern times. The full song consists of 13 strophe
Strophe
A strophe forms the first part of the ode in Ancient Greek tragedy, followed by the antistrophe and epode. In its original Greek setting, "strophe, antistrophe and epode were a kind of stanza framed only for the music," as John Milton wrote in the preface to Samson Agonistes, with the strophe...
s in Middle High German
Middle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
. Modern performers usually use only a few of these strophes.
Palästinalied was written in connection with the Fifth Crusade
Fifth Crusade
The Fifth Crusade was an attempt to reacquire Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful Ayyubid state in Egypt....
(1217-1221). Although it is a political-religious propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
song describing a crusade into the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, it is atypical for a song of this kind in that it also recognizes the claim of all Abrahamic religions to the Holy Land, although finally asserting that the Christian cause is the "right one" in the last strophe:
- Kristen juden und die heiden
- jehent daz dis ir erbe sî
- got müesse ez ze rehte scheiden
- dur die sîne namen drî
- al diu werlt diu strîtet her
- wir sîn an der rehten ger.
- reht ist daz er uns gewer
This strophe can be translated as follows: Christians, Jews and Heathens claim this to be their heritage. God has to assign it in the right way, for His three names. The whole world is coming battling here - our cause is right. It is right that He is granting it to us.
With the increased popularity of Medieval rock
Medieval rock
Medieval metal or medieval rock is a subgenre of folk metal that blends hard rock or heavy metal music with medieval folk music. Medieval metal is mostly restricted to Germany where it is known as Mittelalter-Metal or Mittelalter-Rock. The genre emerged from the middle of the 1990s with...
, Neofolk
Neofolk
Neofolk is a form of folk music-inspired experimental music that emerged from post-industrial music circles. Neofolk can either be solely acoustic folk music or a blend of acoustic folk instrumentation aided by varieties of accompanying sounds such as pianos, strings and elements of industrial...
and related musical styles in the late 1980s and 1990s, Palästinalied became a sort of staple song for such genres and is now well known to modern audiences due to performances by mainly German bands, including
- OugenweideOugenweideOugenweide is a progressive rock band from Germany. They are notable for being pioneers of the medieval folk rock subgenre. The name comes from Middle High German ougenweide .- The beginning :...
(album All die Weil Ich Mag, 1974) - Corvus CoraxCorvus Corax (band)Corvus Corax is a German band known for playing Neo-Medieval music using an abundance of authentic instruments. Their name is the latin name for the Common Raven. The band was formed in 1989 by Castus Rabensang, Wim and Meister Selbfried in East Germany...
(album Congregatio, 1991) - Radio TarifaRadio TarifaRadio Tarifa was a Spanish World music ensemble combining Flamenco, Arab-Andalusian music, Arabian music, Moorish music and also influences of the Mediterranean, of the Middle Ages and of the Caribbean. The name of the ensemble comes from an imaginary radio station in Tarifa, a small town in the...
(album Rumba Argelina, 1993) - QntalQntalQntal is a German "electro-medieval" band founded in 1991 by Michael Popp and Ernst Horn. They later added vocalist Syrah to complete the band. It has roots in Estampie, a band of similar genre but different style; Michael Popp and Syrah are the principal members. Horn left the group in 1999, to...
(album Qntal IIQntal IIQntal II is the second album of the German Darkwave/Gothic Rock/Industrial band Qntal, released in 1995. It features lyrics by Walther von der Vogelweide and other medieval songs combined with modern electronic sound....
, 1995) - EstampieEstampie (band)Estampie is a German music group, founded in 1985 by Sigrid Hausen , Michael Popp and Ernst Schwindl. The band plays primarily medieval music, with some modern influences from world and minimalist music.-Members:...
(album CrusadersCrusadersThe Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
, 1996) - In ExtremoIn ExtremoIn Extremo is a German medieval metal band originating from Berlin. The band's musical style combines metal with medieval traditional songs, blending the sound of the standard rock/metal instruments with historical instruments...
(album Weckt die Toten!Weckt die Toten!Weckt die Toten! is a debut folk metal album by the German band In Extremo. It was released in 1998 by Vielklang Musikproduktion.-Track listing:#Ai vis lo lop – 3:59#Stella Splendens – 1:18...
, 1998) - Djembe (album Хиты Средневековья, 1999)
- Mediaeval Baebes (album UndrentideUndrentide-Track listing:# Undrentide# Isabella# Quan Vey la Lauzeta# Besse Bunting# E Volentieri# Cantiga Listen# Summerisle # Averil# Secreit Nicht# Now Welcom Somer# Veni Coronaberis# Omnes Gentes Plaudite # Lanquan Li Jorn...
, 2000) - Mägo de OzMägo de OzMägo de Oz is a Spanish folk/heavy metal band from Begoña, Madrid formed in mid-1988 by drummer Txus di Fellatio. In 1992, the band were finalists in the Villa de Madrid contest. Then, they went onto achieve great success in Spain, and in 1995, were declared Revolution Rock Band...
(album FinisterraFinisterra (album)Finisterra is a 2000 album by the Spanish folk metal band Mägo de Oz. It narrates the story of Satania, a fictional society in the future where life depends on the Internet and computers.-Plot:In the year 2199, a new order, Satania, is ruling the world...
, 2000) - Unto AshesUnto AshesUnto Ashes is a musical ensemble based in New York City that incorporates madrigal, folk, and elements of neo-medieval and dark wave. Founded by Michael Laird and Susanna Melendez in 1997, the band has released five full-length CDs on the Projekt label...
(EP I Cover You With Blood, 2003) - OmniaOmnia (band)Omnia is a self-described "neoceltic pagan folk" band based in The Netherlands and whose members over the years have had Irish, Dutch, Cornish, Belgian and Persian backgrounds...
(in "Teutates," album PaganFolk, 2006) - Luc Arbogast (album Hortus Dei, 2006)
- Tinnitus Brachialis (album Es wird Zeit...), 2010
The German medieval-EBM fusion act Heimataerde
Heimataerde
Heimataerde is a German electro-industrial band with a medieval motif. It is a solo project by DJ Ash.-LPs:*2005: Gotteskrieger*2006: Kadavergehorsam*2007: Leben Geben Leben Nehmen*2010: Unwesen-Singles:...
also used the melody from "Palästinalied" as the bagpipe-lead in the song "Deus Lo Vult" from their first album, Gotteskrieger. Other similar groups to cover the song have been Saltatio Mortis
Saltatio Mortis
Saltatio Mortis is a German medieval metal group. They are recognized as one of the leading bands of the genre. The latin name means "dance of death".- Studio albums :* 2001: Tavernakel* 2002: Das zweite Gesicht...
and Pilgrimage.
The Austrian Ensemble for Early Music Dulamans Vröudenton performs "Palästinalied" in a strictly authentic way: Listen/Anhören
Lou Harrison
Lou Harrison
Lou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
's String Quartet Set's 1st movement takes much of its melody from this song.
Link
Page of both Middle High German and Modern German lyricsUnto Ashes video for Palästinalied