Gothic Spaces, Gothic Voices

Canterbury Cathedral

Rib Vaults at Canterbury

Bosses

Cantor (p. 171)

Cathedrals are “multimedia exhibitions” that were todemonstrate “the incomparable grandeur of church manifestations of Christian faith.

I. Gothic Spaces

A. Vertical

B. Illumination1. Glass, light and color2. Illumination of the word3. Comparable to text illumination

Speyer Cathedral, Germany

Chartres CathedralLate 1100s

Speyer Cathedral, Germany

The Sainte-ChapelleParis, 1242-48

Abbey of St. Denis1144

Notre Dame, Paris (c. 1180-1250)

Windmill Psalter (London 1270) “Beatus Vir”

Lindisfarne GospelsIrish 9th century

II. Gothic Voices

A. Soundscape1. Gregorian Chant

a. Kyrieb. Hildegard’s “Clarissima”

2. Organum of Perotinus

B. Illumination1. Polyphony, harmony and color2. Illumination of the word

Hildegard of Bingen, O Clarissima Mater (c. 1150)

Radient mother of sacred things! you poured salve on the sobbing wounds that Eve sculpted to torment our souls. For your salve is your son and you wrecked death forever, sculpuring life.

Pray for us to you child, Mary, star of the sea . . .

Notre Dame, Paris (c. 1180-1250)