Gothic Cathedrals
Although Gothic cathedrals are still physically
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Although Gothic cathedrals are still physically present, they belong spiritually to another age. In the Medieval period of Europe, particularly the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, religious life took on a new meaning. One of the predominant expressions of that meaning was the Gothic cathedral. But the cathedral was not simply an architectural masterpiece. Indeed, an emerging theme seems to have been the tension and conflict between unity and diversity.1 This paper will consist of a three part explanation of some of the characteristics of the Gothic cathedral. First, it will provide a brief overview of the characteristics of a Gothic cathedral. Next, the Chartres Cathedral will be described, and finally, Chartres will be used as a case study in which to examine the relationship between musical ratios, proportion, and the design of the Cathedral as related to the Medieval experience.The first Gothic cathedrals were built in France, in the same manner that Gothic art arose and blossomed in that country. With the development of a more logical thought process, the intermixture of mathematics and science away from superstition, and the beginnings of scholasticism, the idea of 1 It is not the purpose of this paper to examine the historical or political significance of the Medieval attitude. For more on the character of the period, especially in relation to religious life, see Jill N. Claster, The Medieval Experience, 300 1400 (New York: New Yor
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of the cathedral. It too, under the influence of the sculptor Fulbert and his School of Chartres, is noted for its humanistic portrayals. This is especially important since it allowed the viewer a more personal religious experience than was common in the period.6
Chartres can thus be understood better in relation to the type of art and architecture which the building of the cathedral helped to promulgate. Logic and rules were used
not for their own sake, but as tools leading to a greater
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4 Ibid., 65.
5 "Henry Adams on Chartres," in Jay Jacobs, ed. Great Cathedrals (New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., 1968), 58 59.
6 Ibid., Aubert, 65 6.
good.7 The architectural magnificence, then, is tied with the human response of self expression and logic. This will become quite important when viewing Chartres in light of its proportions and relationship to harmony and musical theory.
The idea of musical ratios relating to proportions was not completely original to the Medieval experience. Centuries before, the Greeks had developed a system of modality in which mathematical proportion was expressed as the harmonic relationship between tones. Building on the Greek system of modes, the Romans also
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Temple Solomon, Christ Saints, Nicholas Kaye, Chartres Cathedral, , University Press, York Norton, School Chartres, Building Greek, Ibid Aubert, gothic cathedral, gothic cathedrals, university press, cathedral , medieval experience, gothic art, cathedral chartres, musical ratios, american heritage publishing, arbor university, microfilms 1985, york american heritage, cathedrals york american, heritage publishing co, publishing co 1968,
Approximate Word count = 1467
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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