Gaudeamus Igitur, the student hymn
Alongside the Jagiellonian University's official hymn, Gaude Mater, there is also a student song of great popularity, Gaudeamus Igitur. It is frequently sung at University functions all across Europe such as the opening of the academic year. Students traditionally stand while singing it.
Gaudeamus igitur, juvenes dum sumus
Post jucundum juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
Ubi sunt qui ante nos in mundo fuere?
Vadite ad superos
Transite in inferos
Hos si vis videre.
Vita nostra brevis est brevi finietur.
Venit mors velociter
Rapit nos atrociter
Nemini parcetur.
Vivat academia! Vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet
Vivat membra quaelibet
Semper sint in flore.
Vivant omnes virgines faciles, formosae.
Vivant et mulieres
Tenerae amabiles
Bonae laboriosae.
Vivant et republica et qui illam regit.
Vivat nostra civitas,
Maecenatum caritas
Quae nos hic protegit.
Pereat tristitia, pereant osores.
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis antiburschius
Atque irrisores.
Although the text has been translated into most of the languages of the world (including Polish), it is usually sung in Latin at the Jagiellonian University. Where a shorter version is needed, verses 1 and 4 are usually sung without the rest.
The oldest kernel of the song is the grim middle: Ubi sunt qui ante nos in mundo fuere? ("Where are they who before us went into the world?"). They are from a Latin penitential hymn dated to 1267, which was sung to a very different tune.
In 1717, a poem by Silesian balladeer Johann Christian Günther includes a German translation of verses 2 and 3. However, they had already become wrapped in the happier sentiments of a song entitled Brüder, lasst uns lustig sein (Brothers, let's celebrate!) Although the printed version did not indicate a melody, the style of the music used today (a stately sarabande) suggests that it was written about the same time as Günther's lyrics.
In 1781, Christian Wilhelm Kindelben first printed his version of the Latin text, which has become the standard used by most Universities today.
If you go into the courtyard of the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Maius, at 11:00 and 13:00 each day you can hear the clock chime out Gaudeamus Igitur while figures of Rectors, Professors and Students march out of little doors and around a track.
Alongside the Jagiellonian University's official hymn, Gaude Mater, there is also a student song of great popularity, Gaudeamus Igitur. It is frequently sung at University functions all across Europe such as the opening of the academic year. Students traditionally stand while singing it.
Gaudeamus igitur, juvenes dum sumus
Post jucundum juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
Ubi sunt qui ante nos in mundo fuere?
Vadite ad superos
Transite in inferos
Hos si vis videre.
Vita nostra brevis est brevi finietur.
Venit mors velociter
Rapit nos atrociter
Nemini parcetur.
Vivat academia! Vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet
Vivat membra quaelibet
Semper sint in flore.
Vivant omnes virgines faciles, formosae.
Vivant et mulieres
Tenerae amabiles
Bonae laboriosae.
Vivant et republica et qui illam regit.
Vivat nostra civitas,
Maecenatum caritas
Quae nos hic protegit.
Pereat tristitia, pereant osores.
Pereat diabolus,
Quivis antiburschius
Atque irrisores.
Although the text has been translated into most of the languages of the world (including Polish), it is usually sung in Latin at the Jagiellonian University. Where a shorter version is needed, verses 1 and 4 are usually sung without the rest.
The oldest kernel of the song is the grim middle: Ubi sunt qui ante nos in mundo fuere? ("Where are they who before us went into the world?"). They are from a Latin penitential hymn dated to 1267, which was sung to a very different tune.
In 1717, a poem by Silesian balladeer Johann Christian Günther includes a German translation of verses 2 and 3. However, they had already become wrapped in the happier sentiments of a song entitled Brüder, lasst uns lustig sein (Brothers, let's celebrate!) Although the printed version did not indicate a melody, the style of the music used today (a stately sarabande) suggests that it was written about the same time as Günther's lyrics.
In 1781, Christian Wilhelm Kindelben first printed his version of the Latin text, which has become the standard used by most Universities today.
If you go into the courtyard of the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Maius, at 11:00 and 13:00 each day you can hear the clock chime out Gaudeamus Igitur while figures of Rectors, Professors and Students march out of little doors and around a track.
ul. Garbarska 7a
31-131 Kraków, Poland
tel. +48 (12) 429 6207 tel/fax: +48 (12) 429 6195
maoffice@ces.uj.edu.pl
31-131 Kraków, Poland
tel. +48 (12) 429 6207 tel/fax: +48 (12) 429 6195
maoffice@ces.uj.edu.pl