Baroque Architecture

     The topic I have chosen to research is "Baroque Architecture." In the article "Baroque" written by Max Kenyon, Kenyon starts off the article by providing the definition of Baroque and then goes on to discuss the characteristics and traits of Baroque architecture by revealing to the readers how they can differentiate a good baroque building, and a bad one. "A good Baroque building is on the same spiritual level as a good gothic building, though of course the buildings express very different ways of looking at the universe," (Kenyon 105). In the article, Kenyon not only goes over the architecture but also goes over a part of the England culture during the time the Baroque style was adored. The author ties in music to the architecture by informing that the gothic architectural style invited various styles of music, including clavier, opera, and oratorio (Kenyon 106).

St Paul's Cathedral
Sir Christopher Wren 
1674-1711
    In Chapter 15, the text did not provide much on Baroque architecture since the section of the text discussing it was split with information on Baroque sculptures. However, the text was still informing and approached the topic differently than the article. In the text, it was focused on a particular architect named Francesco Borromini, well-known for his Baroque style. The text provided details of Borromini's work that made it fitting to the Baroque style, "...Borromini has placed a wide range of decorative elements-columns, niches, arches, statues-while the façade flows in sinuous curves," (Cunningham 366). Although Borromini's style was described in the text, they did not discuss the impact that the architecture had on other aspects of the culture or describe the traits of Baroque architecture as stated in "Baroque" because the focus was more towards Borromini. "It is open to anyone to hold that the spirit which has its architectural expression in gothic was late in entering into music," (Kenyon 105). 

Here is a super quick video with a summary on Baroque architecture! 

    I selected this specific article because of how the author informed the readers on the style and importance of Baroque architecture while tying it into Baroque music. For example, "...the music of the seventeenth and eighteenth century was saying the same thing as the architecture of the fifteenth," (Kenyon 105). Architecture interests me because of my awareness of the time consuming process it takes to plan and create such beautiful buildings that may live through centuries. Many buildings are important pieces of history and can inspire and influence future architecture styles, which amazes me. I also have a huge admiration for music, so finding this article was both educational and enjoyable for me. 



Works Cited

  • Cunningham, Lawrence, and John J. Reich. Culture and Values: A Survey of the Humanities. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print.
  • Kenyon, Max. “Baroque.” The Musical Times, vol. 89, no. 1262, Musical Times Publications Ltd., 1948, pp. 105–07, https://doi.org/10.2307/933104.

  • “English Baroque.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2020, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Baroque.



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