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Something Understood

Religion & Ethics

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life

Ethical and religious discussion that examines some of the larger questions of life, taking a spiritual theme and exploring it through music, prose and poetry

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Something Understood: The Choir

The Choir

04/12/2011

BBC Radio 4 - Something Understood, The Choir

Mark Tully discusses the role of the choir as a keystone of so many rites of worship.

With the help of the choir of Winchester Cathedral, Mark Tully investigates the role of choral music as an integral part of worship.

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 BBC Radio 4.

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