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PODCAST

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson

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.

music music commentary

All Episodes

01:58:29

Modern Art Is Collapsing: Jonathan Pageau & Andrew...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/12/02

In this wide-ranging round table, architect Andrew Gould, icon carver and storyteller Jonathan Pageau, and host Matthew Wilkinson sit down over whiskey to wrestle with the future of beauty, sacred art, and architecture. We start with pirates and sea shanties, then quickly slide into Jackson Pollock, Rothko, oil slicks, marbled end-papers, and the problem of modern art hung in the wrong place. Andrew and Jonathan both argue that modernism is what happens when a long, rich tradition becomes

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01:07:16

The Hidden Escape Plan Inside "Wade in the Water" |...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/11/23

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 spirituals, Gullah culture, and the music of the enslaved. From “Wade in the Water” to “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” Ann explains how these songs often carried coded messages of escape, using biblical language, river imagery, and “chariots” to talk about the Underground Railroad, freedom, and survival when plain speech was impossible.Ann shares her

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00:51:14

He Baptized Nina Simone, Befriended Bob Marley, and...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/11/13

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 priest. He tells the story of how a Creole childhood that intentionally formed poets and priests prepared him for militant poetry, the civil rights era, and what would later be recognized as some of the earliest roots of rap and hip hop. Father Amde describes his work in Watts at the beginning of the Crips and Bloods, and how gang members

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02:07:06

God is Beauty, but we don't know what that means...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/11/04

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 settled so many historical and theological questions that would constantly nag at my faith, and the Experience of God: Being, Consciousness, Bliss, that truly saved my faith. After reading that book, Atheism seemed so philosophically inept that it became patently absurd to doubt the existence of God as such. The Doors of the Sea was an

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01:39:18

If I were the devil, I’d start destroy beauty first -...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/10/31

“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, soul-stirring conversation about what beauty really is, why it matters, and how its loss is reshaping our civilization. In this wide-ranging dialogue, the two explore the deep relationship between aesthetics, ethics, and faith—and how recovering a sense of beauty could be the key to restoring both art and culture.Beauty, truth, and goodness have been

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01:18:19

The Schism, the Chant, and Solzhenitsyn’s Plea for Unity

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/10/22

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 history, theology, and music of the Old Believers within the Russian Orthodox tradition. He explains how the Old Rite preserved ancient liturgical forms, theology, and chant after Patriarch Nikon’s 17th-century reforms divided the Russian Church. (Pursuit of Beauty Podcast Episode 28)Fr. Pimen describes the rise of the priested and

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01:35:10

Architectural Uprising with Michael Diamant

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/10/15

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 Architectural Uprising and creator of the Facebook group New Traditional Architecture, to explore how we lost our connection to form, harmony, and meaning in the modern world. From the sterile glass towers of contemporary cities to the rediscovery of timeless design, Diamant reveals why the future of architecture depends on reviving classical

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01:28:30

Can Beauty Save the World? A Christian Dialogue with...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/10/03

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 about beauty, truth, goodness, and the challenges of modern civilization. Hall, co-founder of mp3.com and a key figure in the early internet streaming revolution, brings his unique background in technology, philosophy, and faith to a dialogue that touches everything from Christian theology to the future of urban planning. Together they explore

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01:16:25

Father Silouan Justiniano on Rothko, Orthodox...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/09/25

Orthodox iconography, Rothko, sacred art, and the problem of propaganda in beauty—this second interview with Fr. Silouan Justiniano takes us deep into the intersection of faith, modern art, and the revival of Christian tradition. From Mark Rothko’s sublime color fields to the Byzantine legacy of iconography, Fr. Silouan explores how authentic art transcends ideology and points toward the divine, while kitsch and propaganda reduce beauty to mere sentimentality or political utility. For artists,

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01:33:21

Why “Beauty Will Save the World” might be wrong -...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/09/20

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 of Beauty Podcast to tackle some of the most pressing questions about beauty, sublimity, iconography, and Christian art. From Dostoevsky’s famous line to the challenges of modern aesthetics, this conversation digs into what beauty actually is, how it relates to God, and why our understanding of sacred art often misses the mark. (The Pursuit of

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01:12:33

Contemporary Christian vs. Traditional Hymnody | an...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/09/11

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 debate between traditional and contemporary worship styles. This comprehensive discussion covers everything from organ repertoire to hymn arrangements, making it essential viewing for church musicians, worship leaders, and anyone interested in Anglican liturgical music. (The Pursuit of Beauty Podcast Episode 23)Traditional Anglican Music

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01:31:44

Moving Beyond Shallow Church Music

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/09/07

Discover the fascinating world of Anglican hymnody, sacred music composition, and church tradition in this in-depth interview with composer, organist, and hymnal editor Chris Hoyt. As the lead editor of the Book of Common Praise 2017—the official hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church—Chris shares the story behind creating a modern hymnal that bridges ancient liturgical traditions with contemporary needs. From editing challenges to theological debates over hymn texts, this conversation offers a

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02:52:09

How One Man Championed Russian Orthodox Chant When...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/08/29

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 Action39:22 Need for Sacred Music Programs and Conservatories46:59 Unknown Masters of Russian Choral Music55:23 Modern Composers57:40 Tchaikovsky and the Evolution of Liturgical Music01:06:18 Understanding Chant Traditions01:14:55 The Future of Orthodox Music01:26:29 Exploring Traditional Chant and Adaptations01:40:47 Scholarly Insights on Russian

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02:18:47

The Most Amazing Improviser You've Never Heard Of

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/08/22

Discover the fascinating world of Baroque organ improvisation with Dutch master Sietze de Vries, who can spontaneously create 45-minute fugal treatments in the style of Bach and Buxtehude. In this captivating conversation, Sietze reveals how he developed his extraordinary improvisational abilities by learning music as a "native language" from childhood, rather than starting with written notation. From growing up surrounded by 50 historic organs in the Netherlands to his international career

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02:02:57

Georgian Orthodox Chant - Almost Lost Forever with...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/08/14

In this conversation with renowned Georgian Orthodox chant expert Dr. John Graham, we discuss the origins, history, and preservation of Georgia’s ancient three-part polyphonic sacred music. Dr. Graham—widely regarded as the foremost English-speaking authority on Georgian Orthodox liturgical chant—explores the early development of this musical tradition, from the creation of the Georgian alphabet and the earliest neumed manuscripts to the spread of Christianity in the Caucasus. We examine how chant

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01:19:48

What Bach’s Music Reveals About the Structure of...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/08/08

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 musician behind its theme, to explore the profound symbolism, theology, and cosmic patterns embedded in the music of J.S. Bach. Matthew shares the inspiration and recording process for his new album of Bach’s Clavierübung III (the “Organ Mass”), performed on a historic 18th-century organ (recorded on the Waltershausen Trost Organ in Germany, and

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01:48:08

Ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Chants: 1,500-Year Musical...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/07/30

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 Afro-Asiatic form of Christianity with rich liturgical practices, poetic chant, and distinctive theology. Host Matthew Wilkinson and Deacon Henok explore everything from the structure of the Ethiopian liturgy and the use of sacred instruments like the sistrum and kabaro drum, to the complexities of Ge’ez chant and the creation of one-time-use

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01:33:14

The Hidden History of Russian Orthodox Chant | Vlad...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/07/22

In this rich and wide-ranging interview, scholar and publisher Vlad Morosan (founder of Musica Russica) unpacks the fascinating history of Russian Orthodox chant, from its Byzantine roots to the polyphonic masterpieces of composers like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff. He traces the evolution of Znamenny chant, Kievan and Obikhod traditions, and explores the liturgical reforms that sparked the Old Believer schism — including its dramatic implications for music, worship, and cultural identity.Morosan

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02:49:14

Holy Fools, Indie Film, and Finding God: Josh David...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/07/13

In this deep and engaging interview, filmmaker Josh David Jordan joins Matthew Wilkinson to explore the inspiration, philosophy, and cinematic influences behind his latest project, El Tonto Por Cristo. From Tarkovsky’s meditative pacing to the spiritual starkness of Robert Bresson, Jordan opens up about his creative process, the challenges of low-budget filmmaking, and the delicate balance between art, audience, and authenticity. The conversation covers everything from editing heartbreaks to the

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01:34:41

Why Carpatho-Rusyn Chant could save Orthodox Worship...

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson ·

2025/07/09

What makes Carpatho-Russian (Carpatho-Rusyn) Orthodox chant so unique—and so powerfully congregational? In this in-depth conversation, Fr. Nicholas Mihaly explores the distinct features of Carpatho-Rusyn plainchant (Prostopinije), a living tradition rooted in the Carpathian Mountains and shaped by the faith and memory of its people. Unlike composed liturgical music often sung by choirs, Prostopinije is deeply congregational, learned organically by generations of faithful through active participation

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33 results

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