International Journal of Philology

The existing versions of the ancient student song are discussed and the original source of the world-famous hymn is identified in this article. The purpose of the presented work is to isolate and explore the existing variants of the ancient student song, to establish their subordination and authorship, to determine the source of the world-famous hymn. The discovering of the mechanism of creation of the medieval song «Gaudeamus» and its modern reading is the scientific novelty in this area. The analysis of the latin text in comparison with the modern interpretation of ancient poetry by scientists of Russia, Germany and Spain was the basis for the study. The maximum objectivity in presenting factual material was found in this work. A method of dialogical interpretation of the text, in particular its cultural and historical aspect, was used in order to study the work. Conclusions. The literary and musical part of the texts of the student hymn from the very first printed versions, which are stored in the archives, are analyzed; literary versions of the song are presented and their authorship is determined; the authors of the musical accompaniment have been identified, based on the existing versions of the hymn. The cult of ancient song and its origin, started by the Germans, that became a bestseller in music and became the world hymn of youth, is proved

modern student anthem; medieval goliard’s songs; «Gaudeamus»; perception phenomenon; interpretation