When we visit one of Europe's great medieval cathedrals, we can almost hear the voices of the many thousands of worshippers and visitors who have trod these same stones in centuries past. The cathedrals are, indeed, windows on an ancient world. They are inspiring monuments to the artistry of medieval Europe, and to the vision and skill of the people who built them.
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If you’ve been to Paris, you may find the west façade of Soissons Cathedral familiar. That’s because the single 13th century tower is a copy of Notre-Dame de Paris’s twin towers, which were competed ten to twenty years earlier than Soissons’. The architects had planned a second tower, but for reasons unknown, it was never built.
When Segovia Cathedral was built in the late 16th century, the Gothic era in church architecture was drawing to a close. When we first visited Segovia, we were awed by the enormity of the interior space (nearly 50,000 square feet), reminding us of the immense Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City.
For many historians, the Cathedral at Toledo represents the epitome of Spanish Gothic style. And the cathedral’s setting is visually arresting, rising as it does from the middle of a closely-packed medieval center, essentially unchanged for nearly 800 years.
Even if you haven’t visited visited Winchester, most likely the cathedral will be familiar to you, having figured prominently in several films and television series. It appeared in the Da Vinci Code (as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome), and The Crown (as Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.) But even without its celebrity status, Winchester’s magnificent cathedral is well worth a visit
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is located in the ancient (4th century) Diocese of Chartres. Construction of the Cathedral began in 1194. When UNESCO designated Chartres as a World Heritage Site, the Cathedral was called “the high point of French Gothic art.” Chartres’ stained-glass in particular is breathtaking. The windows feature a unique shade of blue glass, universally known as “Chartres blue."
When we visited the magnificent Bamberg Cathedral, we noticed an architectural anomaly. The space between the nave and the sanctuary, designated the choir and reserved for clergy and choristers, is ordinarily located at a church’s east end. Bamberg is among the very few cathedrals to boast choirs at both ends. This blocks the traditional west entrance. Instead, entry is directly into the center of the congregation, through the nave’s north wall.
Construction of Salisbury – one of England’s largest cathedrals – took a mere 38 years, far less time than required by similar projects in the Middle Ages. Today’s Salisbury Cathedral was finished in 1258. The tower and spire were added 70 years later, and at 404 feet, the spire remains the tallest in England.
In the centuries since its founding by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597 AD, Canterbury Cathedral has been – and remains – one of the most important and historic churches in world-wide Christianity. Augustine was sent to England to convert Anglo-Saxon kingdoms from paganism, beginning with the powerful Æthelberht, king of Kent. In large measure he succeeded, and was created the first Archbishop of Canterbury by the pope. Today, from his throne in the Cathedral, the current Archbishop is the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion. With 85 million members in 165 counties, this is the 3rd largest Christian communion, after the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
After filming at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague, Chechia, I composed an orchestral hymn celebrating the courage and tenacity of the Czech people. For 40 years (1949 to 1989) Czechoslovakia (now Czechia) had suffered under the brutality of Soviet totalitarian rule. Yet through those bleak years, the beauty and grandeur of St. Vitus Cathedral remained a bright beacon shining in the darkness. Founded in 930, the Cathedral was a symbol of hope and a reminder of the nation’s remarkable thousand-year history.
We finished filming this video shortly before the fire that devastated Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. The morning after the fire, I sat down to compose an orchestral soundtrack inspired by Notre Dame’s grandeur and quiet serenity, her 2000-year history, and her enduring place in the hearts of men and women the world over.
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