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Artwork for The Pursuit of Beauty

The Pursuit of Beauty with Matthew Wilkinson

Matthew Wilkinson
Beauty
Byzantine Chant
Orthodox Christianity
Aesthetics
Capella Romana
Choral Music
Bach
Greek Orthodox Church
Modernism
Liturgy
Contemporary Christian Music
Modern Art
Gregorian Chant
Consciousness
Philosophy
New Orleans
Eastern Orthodox Music
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral
Music Education
El Tonto Por Cristo

We explore topics such as classical music, Orthodox chant, Bach, Messiaen, architecture, symbolism, the philosophy of mind, aesthetics, and the general pursuit of Beauty.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes47Foundeda year ago
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MusicMusic Commentary

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Artwork for The Pursuit of Beauty

Latest Episodes

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 ancient Georgian tradition of the Supra: a feast built around wine, poetry, hospitality, sto... more

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 explore the full breadth of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity — its theology, its extraordinary s... more

YouTube

Matthew Wilkinson sits down with Bishop Maximus of Pelagonia and musicologist Evgeny Skurat to discuss one of the most extraordinary sacred music projects in recent memory: a full reconstruction and live recording of the medieval Byzantine Divine Lit... more

YouTube

Armenian jazz piano legend @TigranHamasyan joins Matthew Wilkinson on Pursuit of Beauty for a rare, in-depth conversation at the intersection of jazz, Armenian sacred music, medieval polyphony, and the theology of musical beauty. This is not a typi... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Bishop Maximus
Titular bishop in the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece (Old Calendar)
Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece
Episode: Bishop Maximus & Evgeny Skurat | Resurrecting the Ancient Byzantine Liturgy
Evgeny Skurat
Chanter and musicologist focusing on Medieval Byzantine chant
Chronos Ensemble / YouTube channel and scholarly work
Episode: Bishop Maximus & Evgeny Skurat | Resurrecting the Ancient Byzantine Liturgy
Tigran Hamasyan
Armenian pianist and composer known for blending Armenian folk and religious music with jazz
Self—musician
Episode: From Heavy Metal to Armenian Orthodox Chant | Tigran Hamasyan
Alexander Lingas
Professor of Byzantine music; founder of Capella Romana
Capella Romana
Episode: From Hagia Sophia to the Coronation: Alexander Lingas on Byzantine Music and the Living Tradition
Neil DeGraide
Musician and guest on Dirt Poor Robins project
Dirt Poor Robins
Episode: Rock & Roll Is a Trauma Response — Neil DeGraide of Dirt Poor Robins
Dr. William Renwick
expert on Sarum chant
Sarum chant expert and author
Episode: What Is Sarum Chant? The Medieval English Tradition That Shaped Western Worship
George Makary
Coptic iconographer
Independent/iconography practice
Episode: The Beauty of Coptic Iconography (And Why It Matters) | George Makary
Aidan Hart
Iconographer and liturgical artist, influential in Orthodox iconography
Orthodox iconography / Foundation for the Traditional Arts
Episode: The King's Iconographer
Samuel Andreyev
Composer and YouTuber specializing in music analysis
Episode: Why the Avant-Garde Isn’t the Enemy of Tradition

Host

Matthew Wilkinson
Host of the show, focused on beauty, architecture, and Orthodox chant; leads conversations with scholars and practitioners.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 14 ratings
  • Wonderful explorations

    An intense exploration of various topics in the realm of Orthodoxy, music and spirituality

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mattwilki145
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A rare blend of scholarly depth and accessible storytelling about living tradition.
High production quality and strong guest selections, great for researchers and practitioners alike.
Polished interviews with musicians and iconographers that feel both informative and inspiring.
Thoughtful, rigorous discussions on sacred music and aesthetics that reward attentive listening.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Bishop Maximus & Evgeny Skurat | Resurrecting the Ancient Byzantine Liturgy
Q: What are the differences between Cathedral Rite and Monastic Rite, musically and liturgically?
They discuss that the core structure of the Divine Liturgy is similar, but differences appear in antiphons and psalms at the beginning, with Cathedral Rite chants dominating the early portions and Monastic Rite elements appearing in the Typica psalms, while musical differences center on chant tradition and ornamentation across the two rites.
Bishop Maximus & Evgeny Skurat | Resurrecting the Ancient Byzantine Liturgy
Q: Yeah, I'd love to hear about your specific transcription style.
Evgeny explains that he transcribes into Western notation first, using a special Sibelius font that attaches Nelma to each note, and then provides a clear layer of Middle Byzantine notation above and a clarifying Western staff below, making it readable for both Byzantine and Western reading audiences.
What Is Sarum Chant? The Medieval English Tradition That Shaped Western Worship
Q: How does one start integrating Sarum chant into a modern Anglican or Catholic setting?
Start with accessible pieces like Kyrie or Agnus Dei in English, and progressively add Matins or the Anglican English gradual; use organ accompaniment and translational leaflets to help congregations understand the texts while preserving medieval musical character.
What Is Sarum Chant? The Medieval English Tradition That Shaped Western Worship
Q: What distinguishes Sarum chant from other Western liturgical traditions?
Sarum chant is part of a Western rite with regional uses; it preserves unique chants and slightly different versions across Sarum, York, and Hereford, and includes Latin texts and localized liturgical practices that differ from Gregorian norms.
What Is Sarum Chant? The Medieval English Tradition That Shaped Western Worship
Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into Sarum chant.
I'm Canadian, trained in music theory and Gregorian chant studies, with a long career at McMaster University, and my focus shifted to researching Sarum chant as Internet access to facsimiles and digital notation evolved, enabling free online distribution of sources.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Pursuit of Beauty

What is The Pursuit of Beauty about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The series centers on the intersection of sacred art, music, and architecture with a strong emphasis on ancient and living traditions. Episodes frequently unpack Byzantine chant, medieval liturgy, and Orthodox aesthetics, blending scholarly analysis with practical performance discussion. Listeners can expect deep dives into transcription, notation, and living practice, alongside conversations on how beauty and spirituality inform contemporary music, design, and culture. A standout is the consistent pairing of researchers, iconographers, and composers who illuminate how tradition evolves without losing its core form, making it especially compelling for scholars, performers, and culture-focused creatives who value rigorous inquiry coupled wit... more

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1. The Symbolic World
2. The Lord of Spirits
3. The Whole Counsel of God
4. Pints With Aquinas
5. Counterflow with Buck Johnson

How many episodes of The Pursuit of Beauty are there?

The Pursuit of Beauty launched a year ago and published 47 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Pursuit of Beauty?

Recent guests on The Pursuit of Beauty include:

1. Bishop Maximus
2. Evgeny Skurat
3. Tigran Hamasyan
4. Alexander Lingas
5. Neil DeGraide
6. Dr. William Renwick
7. George Makary
8. Aidan Hart

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