The and Other Musicians – the Female Performer or Composer in Medieval (German) Literature

Contrary to common assumptions, during the high Middle Ages more women than we might have expected operated as minstrels, actors, maybe also acrobats, hence as entertainers. Those were called “spilwib” in Middle High German. There is also enough evidence in the literary documents from that time to confirm the existence of outstanding female protagonists competent and independent enough to perform in public and also private spaces. However, it is not easy at all to identify these figures, unless we pay close attention to subdued and fleeting references. This paper offers a first foray into this field of investigation, examining through a close reading what information we can gather about those women artists in courtly society. To be as comprehensive as possible, we ought to recognize but not overemphasize the differences between courtly ladies skilled in the arts and performing in front of their aristocratic audiences, women who worked professionally as minstrels, and literary figures identified as musicians, irrespective of the different social classes represented thereby.