For your listening enjoyment, here is the full video of the procession to Gaudeamus Igitur.
All day yesterday Trey went around the house singing to himself the song played during the civic and academic officials' procession into Mitchell Hall at graduation, Gaudeamus Igitur (Let Us Therefore Rejoice) because, he said, "I can't get it out of my head." He was eager for me to share with you a little about this ancient Latin hymn.
For your perusal we scanned the cover of the ceremony program and the page containing the song's Latin words and English translation. I had to laugh upon reading the words. They're so morbid and depressing. "Our life is short, it will shortly be finished: Death comes quickly, seizes us savagely." Yes, these are the encouraging words I want to hear at a graduation ceremony. Apparently this song is commonly played at graduations throughout the continent and the United Kingdom, the European Pomp and Circumstance, if you will. You can read more about it here.
The great irony is that this song, with its catchy and completely unforgettable tune, is a popular drinking song on many European university campuses. Imagine the local pub anthem being one and the same with the stately, medieval hymn played during the graduation processional. Something doesn't seem quite right there.
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