Shows / The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
We explore topics such as classical music, Orthodox chant, Bach, Messiaen, architecture, symbolism, the philosophy of mind, aesthetics, and the general pursuit of Beauty.
Episodes
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Highly Rhythmic Chant in Christ's Own Language
In the mountains of Lebanon, monks still chant the liturgy in Syriac, a form of Aramaic, the language Christ spoke. Fr. Toufic Maatouk, a monk of the Antonine…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
How to Build a Voice
Can an aging voice lose its wobble? Voice scientist Dr. Stephen Austin says yes, and explains the exercises that brought a 70-year-old soprano's voice back to…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Troubadours, Cathars, and why Jugglers go to Hell
Love songs that are secretly prayers. A dawn song that started in a monastery. A troubadour who became a bishop and persecuted heretics. Medieval singer Evgeny…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
so... why aren't you Orthodox? | Paul VanderKlay
Three years ago they were listening to Sam Harris. Now they're kissing relics. Reformed pastor Paul Vander Klay joins me to talk about the Orthodox moment, why…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Maronite Chant Tradition
In the mountains of Lebanon, monks still chant the liturgy in Syriac, a form of Aramaic, the language Christ spoke. Fr. Toufic Maatouk, a monk of the Antonine…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Appalachian Music: Sacred Harp Explained with Tom Ivey
Sacred Harp: A Living Tradition, with Thomas A. IveyWhat is Sacred Harp, and why are thousands of people still singing it every weekend? In this episode of…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
A Pillar of Anglican Worship - Barry Rose at 92
Barry Rose OBE is one of the towering figures of Anglican church music. At ninety-two he looks back over sixty years at the heart of the English choral…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Epic Conversation: Every Style of Georgian Chant Explained with Dr John Graham
Why does the same ancient chant melody sound completely different depending on which corner of Georgia you're standing in? Musicologist John A. Graham returns…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
How Old is Coptic Chant, Really? Dr. Michael Henein
Is Coptic chant really 3,000 years old? Dr. Michael Henein set out to prove it — and his own experiment said no.Coptic Orthodox chant is often described as the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Future of American Catholic Architecture | Duncan Stroik
Notre Dame architecture professor Duncan Stroik on why modern churches fail — and how to build sacred ones again.Stroik is the designer of Christ Chapel at…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Herman Middleton on the Protecting Veil, Orthodoxy, Technology, and the Future
Herman Middleton joins me to discuss Orthodox Christianity, C.S. Lewis, the modern crisis of what it means to be human, Artificial Intelligcen, and the strange…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Chant with Aram Kerovpyan
Armenian chant, Armenian church music, and the ancient sacred music of the Armenian Apostolic Church are at the center of this conversation with master singer…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
where Japanese art and Medieval manuscripts collide | Daniel Mitsui
In this conversation, I speak with artist Daniel Mitsui about sacred art, medieval manuscripts, Gothic symbolism, calligraphy, typography, Japanese woodblock…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
This Meal Changed His Life
What happens when a meal becomes something sacred?In this conversation, Matthew Wilkinson sits down with John Heers of First Things Foundation to explore the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
They Sing for 15 Hours Straight (And That's a Short Service) | Deacon Mihret Melaku
Deacon Mihret Melaku is an Ethiopian Orthodox deacon, host of the Burning Bush Podcast, and author of Defending the Ancient Faith. In this conversation we…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Bishop Maximus & Evgeny Skurat | Resurrecting the Ancient Byzantine Liturgy
Matthew Wilkinson sits down with Bishop Maximus of Pelagonia and musicologist Evgeny Skurat to discuss one of the most extraordinary sacred music projects in…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
From Heavy Metal to Armenian Orthodox Chant | Tigran Hamasyan
Armenian jazz piano legend @TigranHamasyan joins Matthew Wilkinson on Pursuit of Beauty for a rare, in-depth conversation at the intersection of jazz, Armenian…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
From Hagia Sophia to the Coronation: Alexander Lingas on Byzantine Music and the Living Tradition
Dr. Alexander Lingas — musicologist, conductor, and Founding Director of Capella Romana — joins Matthew Wilkinson for one of the most wide-ranging…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Rock & Roll Is a Trauma Response — Neil DeGraide of Dirt Poor Robins
Neil's links: @dirtpoorrobins https://www.dirtpoorrobins.com/In this episode of The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast, Matthew Wilkinson speaks with musician and rock…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
What Is Sarum Chant? The Medieval English Tradition That Shaped Western Worship
Dr. William Renwick joins the podcast to discuss Sarum chant, the medieval English plainchant tradition centered on Salisbury Cathedral that once dominated…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Beauty of Coptic Iconography (And Why It Matters) | George Makary
Why do some coptic icons look cartoonish? Makary argues that the loss of apprenticeship, the absence of formal art education, and the pressure of rapid church…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The King's Iconographer
In this conversation, I sit down with Aidan Hart, an internationally renowned iconographer, liturgical artist, and multiple-time artist commissioned by King…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Why the Avant-Garde Isn’t the Enemy of Tradition
Modern music, classical music, avant-garde, tonality, postmodernism, and music philosophy are at the center of this conversation between composer and analyst…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Jordan Hall on the solution to AI Music and the future of Bitcoin
In this episode, I’m joined by philosopher and systems thinker Jordan Hall for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, music, and the future of human creativity…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Normandy Cantata and the Cost of Losing Beauty | Dr John Wykoff
This is Part Two of my conversation with Dr. John Wykoff, composer and scholar. We continue a wide-ranging discussion on beauty, worship, church music, and the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Gregorian Chant Interview (Biggest Myths Debunked) | Bruno de Labriolle
Bruno de Labriolle (Ecole Gregorienne) joins Matthew Wilkinson on the Pursuit of Beauty Podcast to discuss the true history of Gregorian chant, the folk method…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
They Won’t Forgive You If They’re Mediocre | Allen Hightower on Building Beautiful Choirs
This week on The Pursuit of Beauty I sit down with Dr. Allen Hightower, Director of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas, for an honest and deeply…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Modern Art Is Collapsing: Jonathan Pageau & Andrew Gould on What Comes Next
In this wide-ranging round table, architect Andrew Gould, icon carver and storyteller Jonathan Pageau, and host Matthew Wilkinson sit down over whiskey to…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Hidden Escape Plan Inside "Wade in the Water" | Gullah Spirituals with Ann Caldwell
n this episode of The Pursuit of Beauty, Matthew sits down with legendary Charleston vocalist and storyteller Ann Caldwell to uncover the hidden world of…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
He Baptized Nina Simone, Befriended Bob Marley, and Founded Rap | Fr. Amde Hamilton
In this long-form conversation, I sit down with Father Amde Hamilton, co-founder of The Watts Prophets, pioneering spoken word artist, and Ethiopian Orthodox…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
God is Beauty, but we don't know what that means |David Bentley Hart Interview
Gratitude: I must express a sense real gratitude for David Bentley Hart coming onto the podcast. His books have indeed changed my life. The Atheist Delusions…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
If I were the devil, I’d start destroy beauty first - John Wykoff
“If I were the devil, I’d start by destroying beauty.”Composer Dr. John Wykoff joins Matthew Wilkinson on The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast for a rare…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Schism, the Chant, and Solzhenitsyn’s Plea for Unity
In this in-depth conversation, Father Pimen Simon of the Old Rite Church of the Nativity of Christ in Erie, Pennsylvania, joins Matthew Wilkinson to discuss…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Architectural Uprising with Michael Diamant
What happened to beauty in architecture? In this episode of The Pursuit of Beauty, host Matthew Wilkinson sits down with Michael Diamant, founder of The…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Can Beauty Save the World? A Christian Dialogue with Jordan Hall
In this episode of The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast, host Matthew Wilkinson sits down with thinker and entrepreneur Jordan Hall for a wide-ranging conversation…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Father Silouan Justiniano on Rothko, Orthodox Iconography, and the Problem of Propaganda in Art
Orthodox iconography, Rothko, sacred art, and the problem of propaganda in beauty—this second interview with Fr. Silouan Justiniano takes us deep into the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Why “Beauty Will Save the World” might be wrong - with Fr. Silouan Justiniano
Will beauty really save the world—or have we misunderstood what that phrase truly means? In this in-depth interview, Fr. Silouan Justiniano joins The Pursuit…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Contemporary Christian vs. Traditional Hymnody | an interview with Chris Hoyt
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Chris Hoyt, composer and church musician, as we explore the rich tradition of Anglican church music and the ongoing…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Moving Beyond Shallow Church Music
Discover the fascinating world of Anglican hymnody, sacred music composition, and church tradition in this in-depth interview with composer, organist, and…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
How One Man Championed Russian Orthodox Chant When Noone Else Could - Vladimir Morosan
Chapters02:48 Interview begins - The Smuggling20:10 The Mission of Musica Russica26:41 Steinberg Passion Week32:14 The Legacy of Choral Music: A Call to…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Most Amazing Improviser You've Never Heard Of
Discover the fascinating world of Baroque organ improvisation with Dutch master Sietze de Vries, who can spontaneously create 45-minute fugal treatments in the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Georgian Orthodox Chant - Almost Lost Forever with Dr. John Graham
In this conversation with renowned Georgian Orthodox chant expert Dr. John Graham, we discuss the origins, history, and preservation of Georgia’s ancient…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
What Bach’s Music Reveals About the Structure of Reality | Jonathan Pageau & Matthew Wilkinson
In this never-before-seen interview, Jonathan Pageau sits down with organist and arranger Matthew Wilkinson, long-time friend of The Symbolic World and the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Chants: 1,500-Year Musical Tradition - Interview with Deacon Henok
In this fascinating deep dive into Ethiopian Orthodox chant and theology, Deacon Henok offers a rare insider's view of the Tewahedo tradition—an ancient…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Hidden History of Russian Orthodox Chant | Vlad Morosan Interview
In this rich and wide-ranging interview, scholar and publisher Vlad Morosan (founder of Musica Russica) unpacks the fascinating history of Russian Orthodox…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Holy Fools, Indie Film, and Finding God: Josh David Jordan on El Tonto Por Cristo
In this deep and engaging interview, filmmaker Josh David Jordan joins Matthew Wilkinson to explore the inspiration, philosophy, and cinematic influences…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Why Carpatho-Rusyn Chant could save Orthodox Worship - Fr. Nicholas Mihaly explains
What makes Carpatho-Russian (Carpatho-Rusyn) Orthodox chant so unique—and so powerfully congregational? In this in-depth conversation, Fr. Nicholas Mihaly…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Understanding Terms: John Vervaeke, Jonathan Pageau, David Bentley Hart; an interview with JP Marceau
In this wide-ranging conversation, JP Marceau discusses his intellectual journey from materialism to a non-reductive naturalist worldview that integrates…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Part II - Malankaran Chant from the Syriac Church in India - Deacon Pradeep Alexander HAtcher
In this in-depth conversation, Matthew Wilkinson speaks with Alexander Hatcher about the distinctive musical and theological heritage of the Malankara Syriac…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Mystery of Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Chant, an interview with Deacon Rubik Mailian part 1
In this rich and illuminating conversation, Deacon Rubik Mailian offers a rare glimpse into the profound musical and spiritual heritage of the Armenian…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Inside Germany’s Elite Church Music Education: Julian Beutmiller on Boy Choir and Mastering Organ Improvisation
In this insightful interview, German organ improviser and cathedral cantor Julian Beutmiller discusses his extensive training in church music, organ…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Iconography with Seraphim O'Keefe
Seraphim is one of the most important iconographers in the Western World today. Greatly Inspired by Ouspensky and Gregory Kroug, he eschews formalism, and…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Malankaran Orthodox Syrian Chant with Deacon Pradeep Alexander Hatcher
We discuss the beauty of this ancient chant from the Malankaran Church in India, which follows West Syriac rites and is attached to the Patriarch of Antioch of…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Orthodox Convert and Architectural Designer Tom Podhrazsky
In this conversation, Matthew Wilkinson and Tom Podhrazsky explore the intersections of cultural heritage, architecture, and design. Tom shares his family's…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Christoph Maria Moosmann Records entire L'Orgue Mystique by Charles Tournemire
Swiss organist Christoph Maria Moosmann records a work that has hardly ever been recorded. Moreso, up until now, the technology did not exist to help render…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Mystery of Greek Orthodox Chant: an interview with Byzantine chant expert John Michael Boyer
John Michael Boyer, associate director of Capella Romana, is probably the foremost expert on Byzantine chant in the English-speaking world. We spoke about the…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
The Oldest Christian Music You've Never Heard (Coptic Chant)
I speak with Dr. Karim Hanna, who in addition to being a medical doctor is also a deacon in the Coptic Orthodox Church, and a teacher of Coptic chant. We talk…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Orthodox American Architecture
Andrew Gould, who is pioneering the traditional building arts in Orthodox Architecture in North America, brings insights to colonial arcthietcture, brutalism…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Kyrial: Gregorian Chant to Anglican
from my discussion with Andrew Dittman about creating his Kyrial and churchmusic in general. . In his setting Gregorian chants in English with four part…
- The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson
Living in an Eastern Orthodox Monastery
Elias Rehmet is an Orthodox musician who lived in an Elder Ephraim monastery for five years. We talk about fasting, asceticism, Orthodox chant, music, and life…