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Johannes Vodnianus Campanus (also Ionnes Campanus Vodnianus, Czech: Jan Campanus Vodňanský , Jan z Vodňan or Jan Kampánus Vodňanský) (27 December 1572 – 13 December 1622) was a Czech humanist, composer, pedagogue, poet, and dramatist. He was born in Vodňany (hence his surname), in southern Bohemia. He studied at the University of Prague and in 1596 and was made Master of Liberal Arts there. He became a teacher in Prague and Kutná Hora. From 1603 he taught Greek and Latin at the University of Prague. He also taught history and Latin poetry. He was repeatedly appointed as dean, prorector, and rector of this university.
Johannas Vodnianus Campanus | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 27, 1572 Vodňany, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) |
| Died | December 13, 1622 (aged 49) Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia (now Czech Republic) |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Education | University of Prague |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, pedagogue, poet, dramatist |
Campanus was a Hussite before renouncing this faith and becoming a Catholic in 1622.
Campanus usually wrote his works in Latin, but also wrote occasionally in Czech, Greek, and German. Some of his works, like the play Břetislav und Jitka (Bretislaus) (1614), were forbidden, because they were critical of the dukes of Bohemia. His works were recognized in Europe for their metrical perfection.
Campanus' first collection of musical works, Sacrarum odarum libri duo, was published in Frankfurt in 1613. The Sacrarum odarum, which includes Rorando coeli, contains primarily short vocal works set in a simple, homorhythmic style.
His chants include:
These were published in 1612, and can be found in the Cantica canticorum in Odaria, LIII, od. 17. They were set to music by Jan Novák in the twentieth century.
He died in Prague. A historical novel was published about him in 1909 by Zikmund Winter, called Mistr Kampanus: historický obraz.
