Janssens:Romain:Ens Leones - Neidhart: Vale Of Tears

Neidhart was one of the most popular Minnesingers - orpoet-musicians - of the late Middle Ages. His songs deal with rustic, erotic and violent topics mediated, however, through court culture, which gives them a stylised, ironic sense of detachment. His division of songs intosummer orwinter adds another layer of complexity, with melancholy or dance-orientated topics prevailing, depending on the season. The instrumental music carries a rural character. TheFrankfurt Fragment manuscript has never been recorded in full, and is here performed by one of the most outstanding ensembles in the field.