This work investigates the musical setting of the traditional English poem 'What Cheer?' for a cappella choral performance. The composer, William Walton, utilizes his established expertise in 20th-century British choral composition to create a specific harmonic and rhythmic structure. The piece serves as a technical exploration of vocal textures and dynamic shifts within an unaccompanied SATB framework.

Experts and choral directors frequently identify this piece as a standard example of Walton's mid-century choral output. Musicians often note the technical precision required to maintain pitch and balance in an unaccompanied setting.