Johannes Caioni
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Johannes Caioni (Kájoni János in Hungarian, Ion Căian or Căianu in Romanian; 1629–1687) 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").
[edit] Biography
Born in Căianu Mic, at the time part of the Szolnok-Doboka comitatus, 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 them 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. He died in Lăzarea and was buried, in accordance with his last wish, in an unmarked grave.
[edit] Works and legacy
A Renascentist and precursor of the Age of Enlightenment in Transylvania, he is best known for his most important works: the 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).
