Johannes Caioni

Johannes Caioni (Ion Căian or Căianu in Romanian or Kájoni János in Hungarian; 8 March 1629 – 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 (Căianu Mic), in the Principality of Transylvania (now in Bistrița-Năsăud County, Romania).

He was of a noble family — Caioni's aunt was the wife of a garrison commander in Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc).

Subsequently, he lived in Csíksomlyó, Gyergyószárhegy (Lăzarea), and Mikháza (now Călugăreni, a village in Eremitu commune, Mureș County).

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 Călușari dance in his musical notations makes this among the first to have ever recorded the custom.