FINE ART

Post and Lintel

A basic building system with vertical posts and a horizontal beam.

Roman Architectural Innovations

Innovations such as the arch, groin vault, and dome that allowed for stronger and larger buildings.

Pantheon

A temple for all gods, known for its dome with an oculus.

Christendom

The Christian community of Europe under the influence of the Church.

Asceticism

Strict self-denial practiced for religious devotion.

Hagia Sophia

A Byzantine church famous for its dome and mosaics.

Scholasticism

A method combining faith and reason in theology and philosophy.

Tympanum

A semi-circular decorated space above a church doorway.

Mass

The Catholic worship service.

Ordinary

The unchanging parts of the Mass, such as Kyrie and Gloria.

Proper

The changing parts of the Mass based on feast or day.

Church Modes

Medieval scales that give chant a unique sound.

Melisma

A style of singing involving many notes sung on a single syllable.

Organum (polyphony)

Early polyphony involving a chant with added voice(s).

Flying Buttresses

Exterior supports used in Gothic cathedrals to allow for taller structures.

Stained Glass

Colored windows in Gothic cathedrals used for storytelling and illumination.

Reims Cathedral

A Gothic cathedral characterized by pointed arches and stained glass.

Messe de Nostre Dame (Machaut)

A Gothic polyphonic mass from the 14th century.

Humanism

A cultural movement focusing on human values, reason, and classical learning.

Rationalism

The belief in knowledge gained through logic and reason.

Worldliness

A focus on earthly life and material concerns.

Otherworldliness

A focus on spirituality, heaven, and the afterlife.

Beauty

A pleasing quality considered central to art.

Sublime

The quality of inspiring awe through greatness or power.

Complexity

The richness and intricacy of form or details in art.

Grotesque

A style characterized by strange, distorted, or exaggerated features.

Emotionalism

The emphasis on strong feelings within art.

Aesthetics

The study or appreciation of beauty and art.

Medium

The material or method used to create art, such as oil paint or marble.

Line

A continuous mark that defines shape, edge, or movement.

Space

The area around, within, or between objects; positive space is filled, negative space is empty.

Color

An element of art created by reflected light.

Polychromatic

Composed of many colors.

Monochromatic

Variations of one color.

Rhythm

The pattern of beats or timing in music.

Pitch

The highness or lowness of a sound.

Harmony

The combination of two or more pitches sounding together.

Texture

The layering of sound, describing how thick or thin music sounds.

Dynamics

The volume, or loudness or softness, of music.

Tone Color (Timbre)

The unique sound quality of an instrument or voice.

Syllabic

A style of setting musical text where one note is sung per syllable.

Neumatic

A method of setting musical text with 2-4 notes per syllable.

Melismatic

A singing style involving many notes on a single syllable.

Monophonic

A musical texture consisting of a single melodic line without harmony.

Homophonic

A texture featuring a melody accompanied by chordal harmony with the same rhythm.

Polyphonic

A musical texture with multiple independent melodies occurring simultaneously.

Liturgy

A formal system of worship and ritual practices within a religious tradition, often including prescribed prayers, hymns, and readings.