A minnesinger was a medieval German lyric poet and singer, especially active in the 12th and 13th centuries, who wrote and performed songs of courtly love. The word comes from minne, meaning love, and many minnesingers were associated with noble courts.
Their work helped shape the tradition of German love lyric known as Minnesang.
Example
At dusk the minnesinger tuned his harp and sang
of pale hands, distant windows, and faithful longing,
while the court listened in silence.