noun
- a member of a German guild of poets and musicians that flourished from the 14th to 16th centuries
Usage: historical
Examples
- The mastersingers of Nuremberg were famous for their elaborate musical competitions.
- Hans Sachs was one of the most celebrated mastersingers of the 16th century.
- Wagner’s opera depicts the world of the mastersingers and their strict musical rules.
- The mastersinger guilds preserved German musical traditions during the Renaissance.
- Each mastersinger had to follow complex rules when composing new songs.
- The mastersingers held contests to determine who could create the best new melody.