Johannes Caioni (Ion CÃÂian or CÃÂianu in Romanian or Kájoni János in Hungarian; 8 March 1629 â 25 April 1687) was a Transylvanian Franciscan friar and Roman Catholic priest, musician, folklorist, humanist, constructor and repairer of organs of Romanian origin (according to his own testimony, "Natus valachus sum" - "I was born a Vlach").
Caioni was born in Kiskaján (CÃÂianu Mic), in the Principality of Transylvania (now in BistriÃÂa-NÃÂsÃÂud County, Romania). He was raised in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca) and CsÃÂksomlyó (ÃÂumuleu Ciuc). He was of a noble family â Caioni's aunt was the wife of a garrison commander in CsÃÂkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc). Through her connections, he was admitted in the Franciscan monastery of CsÃÂksomlyó (ÃÂumuleu Ciuc).
Caioni studied with the Jesuits in Kolozsvár, and continued his studies in CsÃÂksomlyó. In 1647, he became a friar, and continued his studies in Nagyszombat (Trnava), training in music. He was ordained in 1655. Subsequently, he lived in CsÃÂksomlyó, Gyergyószárhegy (LÃÂzarea), and Mikháza (now CÃÂlugÃÂreni, a village in Eremitu commune, MureàCounty). He died in Gyergyószárhegy.
A Renascentist and precursor of the Age of Enlightenment in Transylvania, he is best known for his most important works:
His mentioning of the traditional CÃÂluÃÂari dance in his musical notations makes this among the first to have ever recorded the custom.
In 1675, Caioni founded a printing press in CsÃÂksomlyó, printing both his works and textbooks for the local Franciscan school. His Cantionale Catolicum went through four editionsâÂÂ1676, 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.
Bucharest: Electrecord, 1995.
Münster: Dreyer Gaido, 2021