(fl c1300). German Minnesinger. 13 Minnelieder and 14 Sprüche are attributed to him in the Jena manuscript; 17 of them have melodies in this source. The Minnelieder are composed of traditional formulae and motifs, while religious and moralizing topics predominate in his Spruch poetry. He stated that he had learnt the art of poetry from ‘der Ungelârte’, none of whose poetry survives. A member of a later generation of poets, he seems to have emulated the forms and themes of other masters, notably Gottfried von Neifen, Steinmar, Ulrich von Winterstetten and Reinmar von Zweter. In rhythm and metre and in melodic style his poems exhibit an independently artistic and highly developed formal sense. His melodies, some of which are characterized by rich melismas, justify substantial study.
Since the beginning of the 19th century he has been identified with Wizlâv III, Prince of Pomerania and Rügen (d 1325). However, more recently objections to the identification have been raised; Seibicke has suggested that the author of these works is more likely to have been a professional singer than a high-ranking nobleman.
Editions: Des Fürsten von Rügen Wizlaw’s… Sprüche und Lieder, ed. L. Ettmüller (Quedlinburg, 1852/R) [critical text edn]Die Jenaer Liederhandschrift, ed. G. Holz, F. Saran and E. Bernoulli (Leipzig, 1902/R) [texts and melodies]Ausgewählte Melodien des Minnesangs, ed. E. Jammers (Tübingen, 1963)The Songs of the Minnesinger Prince Wizlaw of Rügen: with Modern Transcriptions of his Melodies and English Translations of his Verse, ed. W. Thomas and B.G. Seagrave (Chapel Hill, 1967)Die Jenaer Liederhandschrift in Abbildung, ed. H. Tervooren and U. Müller (Göppingen, 1972) [facs.]
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All Wizlâv’s songs appear uniquely in D-Ju El.f.101 [Jenaer Liederhandschrift], ff.72v–80v. |
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De erde is vntslozen |
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Der herbest kumpt uns riche nůch |
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Der vnghelarte hat ghemachet eyne senende wise |
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Der walt vnd angher lyt ghebreyt |
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De voghelin/Vntphat des lechten meyien scin |
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Ich parere dich durch mine vrowen |
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… List du in der minne dro (opening missing) |
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Loybere risen/Von den boymen hin tzů tal |
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Meyie scone kum io tzů |
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Nach der senenden claghe můz ich singhen |
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Vve ich han ghedacht |
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Uvol dan her meyie ich ghebe vch des de hulde |
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Uvol vph ir stolzen helde |
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Ich warne dich vil jungher man ghetzarte |
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Manich scimphit vph sin eyghen tzil |
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Menschenkint denket daran |
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Saghe an du boser man |
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Ich wil singen in der nuwen wise (unascribed, see Thomas and Seagrave, 87) |
F. Gennrich: ‘Zu den Melodien Wizlavs von Rügen’, ZDADL, lxxx (1943), 86–102
R.J. Taylor: ‘A Song by Prince Wizlav of Rügen’, Modern Language Review, xlvi (1951), 31–7
H. de Boor: Die höfische Literatur: Vorbereitung, Blüte, Ausklang, 1170–1250, Geschichte der deutschen Literatur, ed. H. de Boor and R. Newald, ii (Munich, 1955, rev. 11/1991 by U. Hennig) [incl. bibliography]
S. Werg: Die Sprüche und Lieder Wizlavs von Rügen: Untersuchung und kritische Ausgabe der Gedichte (Hamburg, 1969)
E. Jammers: ‘Anmerkungen zur Musik Wizlaws von Rügen’, Quellenstudien zur Musik: Wolfgang Schmieder zum 70. Geburtstag, ed. K. Dormüller and G. von Dadelsen (Frankfurt, 1972), 103–14
E. Pickerodt-Uthleb: Die Jenaer Liederhandschrift: metrische und musikalische Untersuchung (Göppingen, 1975)
W. Seibicke: ‘“Wizlau diz scrip” oder: wer ist der Autor von J. fol. 72v–80v’, Jb des Vereins für niederdeutsche Sprachforschung, ci (1978), 68–85
C. Händl: ‘Wizlav (von Rügen?)’, Literaturlexikon: Autoren und Werke deutscher Sprache, ed. W. Killy (Gütersloh, 1988–93)
E. Hages: ‘“Snel hel ghel scrygh ich dinen namen”: zu Wizlauws Umgang mit Minnesangtraditionen des 13. Jahrhunderts’, Lied im deutschen Mittelalter: Überlieferung, Typen, Gebrauch: Chiemsee 1991, ed. C. Edwards, E. Hellgardt and N.H. Ott (Tübingen, 1996), 157–76
For further bibliography see Minnesang.
BURKHARD KIPPENBERG/R