Zygmunt Lauksmin

Žygimantas Liauksminas (, ; 1596 or 1597 – 11 September 1670) was a Lithuanian Jesuit theologian, philosopher, theorist of rhetoric and music, founder of Lithuanian musicology, one of the first Lithuanian professors and rectors of the University of Vilnius.

Biography Liauksminas was born in Samogitia, and joined the Jesuit Order in 1616. In 1618–1619, he studied rhetoric at the Jesuit College in Pułtusk. He continued his education at the University of Vilnius studying philosophy in 1619–1621 and theology in 1625–1629. In 1642, Liauksminas became a Doctor of Theology.

Liauksminas taught rhetoric at the Polotsk College and in 1631–1635, philosophy and theology at the University of Vilnius in 1635–1642, philosophy at the Braunsberg College in 1642–1644. Was a rector of the in 1644–1647, Polotsk College in 1650–1655, and Kražiai College in 1661–1665. He was vice-rector (1655–1658) and vice-chancellor (1665–1670) of the University of Vilnius.

He was a vice-provincial superior of Lithuania in the Jesuit Order. In 1645–1646, he substituted a provincial superior and administered a religious province during the 9th General Congregation. As a general elector from Lithuanian Jesuits, he also participated in the 10th (1652) and 11th (1661) General Congregations in Rome. He died in Vilnius, Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Works

Liauksminas has written theological works (The Justification of the Catholic Church, Demonstratio Catholicae Ecclesiae, circa 1643, third edition - 1648), A Theology for the Church (Theologia ecclesiastica, 1665, second edition - 1675), first original Ancient Greek Grammar in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth - Summary of the Greek Textbook (Epitome institutionum linguae graecae, 1655).

He also has written first textbook of music in Lithuania - The Art and Practice of Music (Ars et praxis musica, 1667, 1693, 1977 in Lithuanian). Common fundamentals of music explained - names of the music notes, a scale, clefs; exercises and church music examples included, plainsong (cantus planus), many-voiced, Gregorian, hard (cantus durus) and soft (cantus mollis) chant modes examined.

Žygimantas Liauksminas wrote poems in Ancient Greek, a panegyric to Władysław IV Vasa, sermons. Manuscripts of the tractates of theology About the Single God (Tractatus de Deo Uno), A Theologic Tractate about the Law and Justice (Tractatus theologicus de jure et justitia) are also survived.