(fl mid- to late 13th century). German poet-composer. He is not attested in official documents or mentioned in contemporary literature. The only biographical clues are certain allusions in his poetry to historical events between 1285 and 1288 but more recent study shows additional allusions to events from 1247 to 1252. In two manuscripts he is named ‘der wilde Alexander’, perhaps because of his unusual style or his restless itinerant life, and in the Jena manuscript he is called ‘Meister Alexander’. But the Meistersinger did not regard him as one of the 12 masters.
Alexander was one of the most important Minnesinger and composers of Sprüche (see Spruch) after the time of Walther von der Vogelweide. In the surviving sources he is represented mainly by 24 Spruch strophes (in only one Ton), but also by two Minnelieder and one Leich. The principal themes of his Spruch poetry are admonition and criticism of the times, with reference both to the life of the individual and to religious and political circumstances. The themes of his Minnesang are still those of the chivalrous hohe Minne; yet the repertory of motifs in classical Minnesang, with its tendency to idealize, is given new life by his highly personal, adventurous and passionate manner. Alexander’s lyric poetry has much of the formal style of classical courtly poetry, but is characterized by his own powerful, dark, allegorical style. The originality and forward-looking form of his melodies reflect his poetic skill. Alexander’s musical style is similar to that of classical Minnesang; but at the same time the melodies show a more modern and refined stylistic intent, and some suggest early 14th-century style in their extensive melismas.
Text edition: Deutsche Liederdichter des 13. Jahrhunderts, ed. C. von Kraus and H. Kuhn (Tübingen, 1952–8, 2/1978) [K]Music editions: Gesänge von Frauenlob, Reinmar von Zweter und Alexander, ed. H. Rietsch, DTÖ, xli, Jg.xx/2 (1913/R) [R]Minnesang des 13. Jahrhunderts, ed. H. Kuhn (Tübingen, 1953, 2/1962) [with melodies ed. G. Reichert] [KR]Ausgewählte Melodien des Minnesangs, ed. E. Jammers (Tübingen, 1963) [J]The Art of the Minnesinger, ed. R.J. Taylor (Cardiff, 1968), i [T]
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Ach owê, daz nâch liebe ergât, K 13, D-Ju El.f.101 [Jenaer Liederhandschrift], A-Wn 2701 [Wiener Leichhandschrift]; R, J, T |
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Ein wunder in der werlde vert, K 2, D-Ju; J, T |
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Hie vor dô wir kinder wâren, K 12, Ju; KR, J, T |
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Mîn trûreclîchez klagen (‘Minneleich’), K 15, Ju, A-Wn 2701 (with diverging music); KR 154 (after Wn), J (D-Ju), T (Ju, A-Wn) |
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Sîôn, trûre, K 10, D-Ju (frag., melody to lines 17–26 missing); KR, J, T |
R. Haller: Der wilde Alexander (Würzburg, 1935)
H. Kuhn: Minnesangs Wende (Tübingen, 1952, 2/1967)
R.J. Taylor, ed.: The Art of the Minnesinger (Cardiff, 1968), ii
J. Biehl: Der wilde Alexander: Untersuchungen zur literarischen Technik eines Autors im 13. Jahrhundert (diss., U. of Hamburg, 1970)
N. Wagner: ‘Die Lebenszeit des wilden Alexander’, Zeitschrift für deutsches Altertum und deutsche Literatur, civ (1975), 338–44
I. Glier: ‘Meister Alexander’, Die deutsche Literatur des Mittalalters: Verfasserlexikon, ed. K. Ruh and others (Berlin, 2/1977–)
For further bibliography see Minnesang and Sources, MS, §III, 5.
BURKHARD KIPPENBERG/LORENZ WELKER