The collection “Odae cum harmoniis” by Johannes Honterus /In memoriam Astrid Philippi-Niedermaier

Abstract

The colonization of the Transylvanian Saxons in the 12th century created direct and indirect connections with their places of origin. These connections can be sensed until today and are manifested first of all through the effort of the Transylvanian Saxons to permanently keep up with the achievements in Western Europe, mainly in the German territories. Many young people went to study and work abroad for a while, gathering experience, which was then turned to account in their home country. Johannes Honterus (1498–1549), son of a leather tanner in Brașov, also followed such a path, after returning from abroad to his hometown at the age of 35, became the reformer of the Saxons in Transylvania and founded the gymnasium “Schola Coronensis” (today’s “Johannes Honterus” Theoretical High School) on humanist bases in 1541. Here he compiled the collection Odae cum Harmonies in 1548, dedicated to teaching metric verses in Latin with the aid of music. The volume was analyzed and re-edited by the musician Astrid Philippi- Niedermaier (1944–1998) and the historian Gernot Nussbächer in 1983.