Cathedral Talk

David learns of the author of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

SEE: Ian Fleming

Tom showcases the architecture of the Pantheon of Ancient Rome, which was the progenitor of much cathedral architecture that followed afterwards.

SEE: The Pantheon images, models, and diagrams

SEE: The Pantheon (Ancient Rome)

SEE: Dome (masonry)

SEE: Rotunda

SEE: Tholobate (Drum)

SEE: Coffering

SEE: Portico

SEE: Pediment

SEE: Monolithic Column

SEE: Pilaster

Tom, David, and Zack confuse themselves over the different types of cardinals of the Catholic Church.

SEE: Cardinal

SEE: André Vingt-Trois

Tom gives Zack and David a tour of his Minecraft build for the Pantheon.

SEE: Tom’s Pantheon(1:1 scale) build

Tom provides errata regarding the origin of the term “Gothic” architecture.

SEE: Gothic Art (Britannica)

Tom, Zack, and David discuss how recent features added to Minecraft have expanded building opportunities, particularly regarding how wall blocks operate in 1.16 and beyond.

SEE: Improved Walls in Minecraft (by Pixlriffs)

The gents also discuss the additional features that they would like to see in the game in the future.

SEE: Minecraft Timeline

SEE: Minecraft Java Version History

SEE: Minecraft Future Planned Versions

Tom discusses campanology, the study of bells.

SEE: Campanology

SEE: Change ringing

SEE: Chime

SEE: Tolling

SEE: Peal

SEE: Carillon

SEE: Bourdon bells

Tom presents his ranked list of The World’s Top 10 Best Bourdon Bells.

SEE: The World’s Top 10 Best Bourdon Bells

Tom briefly discusses using recordings of bells for the podcast’s theme.

SEE: Doppler effect

SEE: Concert pitch (Treaty of Versailles, under 19th and 20th c. standards)

David shares his challenges with handling expectations and when they are not met.

SEE: Hofstadter’s Law

Tom gives Zack and David homework, to watch his favorite documentary on cathedrals with renowned author and artist David Macaulay.

SEE: “Cathedral” with David Macaulay, 1986 PBS special

Tom has Zack and David partake in a short activity where they must sequence a sample of Romanesque and Gothic monuments in order by construction date.

SEE: Nave Elevations of France & England ACTIVITY

SEE: Nave Elevations of France & England CHART

Tom shares insights about the Basilica of Saint Denis with regard to the origin of Gothic architecture, proposed by historian and YouTuber Myles Zhang.

SEE: The Origins of Gothic Architecture at Saint-Denis, by Myles Zhang

The gents take a photographic tour of these Romanesque and Gothic churches that exemplify the slow evolution of Gothic architecture over centuries, in both France and England.

SEE: Gothic Lineage via Sample of Churches in France and England Images

Tom explains the different types of Rib Vaults in Gothic architecture—Sexpartite Vaults vs. Quadripartite Vaults.

SEE: Rib Vaults

Zack offers a few corrections to information shared on stellar fusion which was discussed in podcast episode #7. Tom shares a few brief updates about finishing the exterior wall of the choir on the 2:1 scale Notre-Dame model. The gents briefly investigate the use of organs throughout Notre-Dame’s history.

SEE: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame – “God Help The Outcasts” [Minecraft Noteblocks] 

SEE: “Kyrie Eleison," from Becket (1964)

The gents discuss the contributions to music that were made by the Notre-Dame School of Music in the late 12th c. and early 13th c.

SEE: Notre-Dame School of Music

SEE: Notre Dame Cathedral: The Birthplace Of Music As We Know It Today

SEE: Early Organum

Here are three surviving pieces from the composer Perotin from the Notre-Dame School of Music during the early days of its construction. These versions are recorded by the MusicNetMaterials YouTube channel.

SEE: Perotin - Viderunt Omnes, Sheet Music + Audio

SEE: Perotin: Sederunt principes. Escuela de Notre Dame. Primera sección

SEE: Perotin: Sederunt Principes. Escuela de Notre Dame. Organum.

The gents discuss the possibility of re-sheathing Notre-Dame’s roof with lead.

SEE: FRANCE 24 (English) – Report that Notre-Dame Roof to be Re-sheathed in Lead

Tom discusses past roof-fires at other French Gothic cathedrals.

SEE: Chartres Cathedral Roof Fire of 1836

SEE: Reims Cathedral Roof Fire of 1914 (WWI)

SEE: Amiens Cathedral Present Day Unburnt Roof, built approx. 1300–1305

SEE: Amiens Cathedral Nave Roof Structure

Tom builds a gold/experience farm without building above the Nether roof ceiling.

SEE: Ilmango Gold/XP Farm (original version from patch 1.11–1.13)

David briefly discusses how to avoid being overwhelmed by extensively complex games.

SEE: Crusader Kings 3

Tom learns of a possible difference between cathedral “apses” and “hemicycles.”

SEE: Apses vs. Hemicycles Comparison

Zack challenges conventional wisdom over the most important functions of language.

SEE: Mathematical Synonyms, Antonyms, Homophones, and Heteronymns

SEE: Information Theory

SEE: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

David discovers a newly proposed Lego Ideas build for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

SEE: Lego Ideas – Chitty Flies Again, by Norders 

SEE: Lego Ideas – UCS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, by Norders (older version)

Tom, David, and Zack discuss playing other games for creativity’s sake vs. the prescribed survival multiplayer experience.

SEE: Eurogamer – Valheim Notre-Dame build

SEE: Steam – Oxygen Not Included

SEE: Sid Meier’s Civilization

SEE: Diablo 3

Tom discusses vantage points of different cathedrals as well as the effect scaling Minecraft builds has on different perspectives.

SEE: St. Paul’s Cathedral vs. Notre-Dame NEAR vs. FAR Vantage Points (+Enterprise-D)

SEE: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Shooting Models for Star Trek: The Next Generation

David and Zack explore Tom's preliminary work on the new Avalon server build for the 2:1 scale model of Notre-Dame de Paris.

SEE: Minecraft Notre-Dame Phase 1.1 – Chevet Base Buttresses and Wall

SEE: Notre-Dame’s Groundplan – Original vs. Present-Day

SEE: Grian’s Demonstration of Block Palettes for Building Mega Bases

Tom shares news and insights from the panel discussion at the French Embassy on developments with the restoration at Notre-Dame, commemorating the two-year anniversary of the April 15 fire.

SEE: French Embassy Panel – Notre-Dame de Paris: Rebuilding a Legacy

Off-topic, Tom groans about plot holes in children’s media while David and Zack briefly discuss stage musicals. Tom then recalls two trips to Chartres Cathedral, a French-gothic sister cathedral to Notre-Dame de Paris—the first trip in 2007 before restoration work was initiated and a second trip ten years later in 2017 after major restoration work was applied. The gents debate the merits and detriments of Chartres’ restoration and ponder possible ramifications that may also be relevant for Notre-Dame’s restoration.

SEE: Chartres Cathedral

SEE: Chartres Pre & Post-Restoration + Notre-Dame, St. Paul’s, and National Cathedral Images

The gents discuss building snow forts back in the day and investigate the world record for the World’s Largest Snow Fort.

SEE: SnowCastle of Kemi

SEE: Dillon Ice Castles

Latest updates surrounding the Caves & Cliffs Update to Minecraft:

SEE: Minecraft Java Edition 1.17 Update

Tom explains the difference between cathedrals and basilicas, as well as their origins and derivations.

SEE: Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran

SEE: Comprehensive List of Cathedrals

SEE: Comprehensive List of Basilicas

Tom quizzes Zack and David upon significant vocabulary regarding cathedral groundplans.

SEE: Cathedral Groundplan Vocabulary