De Brevitate Vitae
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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De Brevitate Vitae (on the Shortness of Life) is a song in Latin that is a popular academic commercium song in many European countries. In many modern Western nations it is sung as an anthem at University graduation ceremonies. The melody is inspired by a medieval hymn by Strada, bishop of Bologna in 1267. Although this sounds very dignified, the song has been adopted by students as a form of prank and the lyrics are not very dignified.
It has been known as a beer-drinking song in German, Dutch and Swiss (and also British, Swedish, Estonian, Finnish and even Australian) universities by many generations of students. In Belgian universities, where drinking and singing is actually a common activity for students, it is one of the 'official' songs which are sung as the opening of these singing activities. The lyrics reflect an endorsement of the bacchanalian mayhem of life (especially life as found in fraternities and sororities) while simultaneously retaining the grim knowledge that one day we will all die.
The song contains humorous and ironic references to sex and death, and many versions have appeared following efforts to bowdlerise this song for performance in public ceremonies. In private, students will typically sing ribald words.
The song is sometimes known by its opening words "Gaudeamus igitur" or simply "Gaudeamus". The many centuries of use have given rise to numerous slightly different versions.
Johannes Brahms quoted the hymn in the final section of his Academic Festival Overture. Sigmund Romberg used it in the operetta "The Student Prince".
An excellent performance of the first, most characteristic strophe was recorded in mid-twentieth century by the American-Italian singer Mario Lanza, and is still available, under the title "Gaudeamus Igitur".
An excerpt of the song was also performed by cast members of the television series The West Wing during the episode entitled "Debate Camp".
A variation was the original opening music for the Says You program on the US broadcaster WGBH.
An excerpt is also performed as the musical theme of the classic 1951 Cary Grant/Jeanne Crain film People Will Talk, delightfully "conducted" by Grant.
