The acoustic environment of York Minster’sChapter House

Abstract

York Minster is the largest medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, renowned for itsmagnificent architecture and its stained glass windows. Both acoustic measurements and simulationtechniques have been used to analyse the acoustic environment of its Chapter House, which datesfrom the 13th-century and features an octagonal geometry with Gothic Decorated stone walls repleteof geometric patterns and enormous stained glass windows, covered by a decorated wooden vault.Measured and simulated room impulse responses served to better understand how their architecturalfeatures work together to create its highly reverberant acoustic field. The authors start by analysingits acoustic characteristics in relation to its original purpose as a meeting place of the cathedral’sChapter, and end by reflecting on its modern use for a variety of cultural events, such as concerts andexhibitions. This work is part of the “Cathedral Acoustics” project, funded by the EC through theMarie-Sklodowska-Curie scheme.