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Through a visit to one of Britain's best known Cathedrals, Mark Tully investigates the importance of the choir's role in contemporary worship. With examples from some of the finest choral music ranging from contemporary masses and traditional psalms to the work of Gospel choirs and the New York Cantorial Choirs, this is a programme that explores the communal power of singing.

Why does such music continue to provide a vital and indispensible element of worship and how can it have a wider impact on the spiritual communities its serves?

With special recordings of the Winchester Cathedral Choir in rehearsal and in conversation with the Precentor and Director of Music, this is a celebration of singing to the glory of God.

This edition of Something Understood includes music by Antonio Lotti, Gustav Holst and Samuel Malavsky and readings by Samuel Butler, Wendy Cope and Siegfried Sassoon. The readers are Samantha Bond, Jack Shepherd and Wendy Cope.

Producer: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4.