Johannes Caioni

Johannes Caioni ("Kájoni János" in Hungarian, "Ion Căian" or "Căianu" in Romanian; 8 March 1629 – April 25 1687) was a Transylvanian Franciscan monk and Roman Catholic priest, musician, folklorist, humanist, constructor and repairer of organs of Vlach (Romanian) origin (according to his own testimony, "Natus valachus sum" - "I was born a Vlach").

Biography

Caioni was born in Căianu Mic, at the time part of the Szolnok-Doboka "comitatus" (now in Bistriţa-Năsăud County, Romania. He was raised in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) and Şumuleu Ciuc. He was of a noble family—Caioni's aunt was the wife of a garrison commander in Miercurea-Ciuc. Through her connections, he was admitted in the Franciscan monastery of Şumuleu Ciuc.

Caioni studied with the Jesuits in Kolozsvár, and continued his studies in Şumuleu Ciuc. In 1647, he became a monk, and continued his studies in Nagyszombat (Trnava), training in music. He was ordained in 1655. Subsequently, he lived in Şumuleu Ciuc, Lăzarea, and Călugăreni (now a village in Eremitu commune, Mureş County). He died in Lăzarea and was buried, in accordance with his last wish, in an unmarked grave.

Works and legacy

A Renascentist and precursor of the Age of Enlightenment in Transylvania, he is best known for his most important works:
*Codex Caioni,
*Organo Missale,
*Cantionale Catolicum,
*Sacri Concentus,
*Calendarium,
*Antiphonarium Romanum" and others.

His mentioning of the traditional "Căluşari" dance in his musical notations makes this among the first to have ever recorded the custom.

In 1675, Caioni founded a printing press in Şumuleu Ciuc, printing both his works and textbooks for the local Franciscan school. His "Cantionale Catolicum" went through four editions—1676, 1719, 1805 and 1806. The press was noted for serving the cultural needs of Roman Catholics in the Székely Land and neighbouring Moldavia. It was later used by Hungarian revolutionaries of 1848 to print their "Hadi Lap" newspaper, and other publications.