Thank goodness for the Normans......in one respect, only! Of the United Kingdom's constituent Countries, only ENGLAND got their cathedrals! Only England has cathedrals to equal the glories of those in Europe. What always used to amaze me, prior to retirement, was how few of my Nursing colleagues would visit them. They would visit Exeter, or Canterbury, Wells or Durham, and praise their shops! What about the largest and most glorious buildings in those places? The sublime Bell Harry Tower of Canterbury, the entirety of Durham, the magnificence of Ely as you approach it over the Fens, the absolute jewel which is Wells. And to hear Sir John introducing the (architecturally-unfortunate) Gloucester cathedral - caught in Transition between Norman and Perpendicular Gothic - is a real delight!
@Richard Harrold Jewels, too! But they are exceptions! In my late mother's home city of Elgin, used to be the 'Lantern of the North', the great cathedral of Elgin; destroyed by Alexander Stuart, when the Bishop of Moray excommunicated him. It was then pillaged by the city folk for their homes. Even the twin-towered ruins are impressive: especially the Chapter House. I shall be visiting St Mungo's )and possibly Paisley Abbey!) in April.
My word, that is mesmerizing.
Thank goodness for the Normans......in one respect, only! Of the United Kingdom's constituent Countries, only ENGLAND got their cathedrals! Only England has cathedrals to equal the glories of those in Europe. What always used to amaze me, prior to retirement, was how few of my Nursing colleagues would visit them. They would visit Exeter, or Canterbury, Wells or Durham, and praise their shops! What about the largest and most glorious buildings in those places? The sublime Bell Harry Tower of Canterbury, the entirety of Durham, the magnificence of Ely as you approach it over the Fens, the absolute jewel which is Wells. And to hear Sir John introducing the (architecturally-unfortunate) Gloucester cathedral - caught in Transition between Norman and Perpendicular Gothic - is a real delight!
@Richard Harrold Jewels, too! But they are exceptions! In my late mother's home city of Elgin, used to be the 'Lantern of the North', the great cathedral of Elgin; destroyed by Alexander Stuart, when the Bishop of Moray excommunicated him. It was then pillaged by the city folk for their homes. Even the twin-towered ruins are impressive: especially the Chapter House. I shall be visiting St Mungo's )and possibly Paisley Abbey!) in April.
Beautiful singing. Lovely slow tempi. Fuge h-moll BWV 544 JSB