New from Howard Goodall is Loving Kindness - An Eastern Blessing, a meditative 4-minute work setting a blessing by Mahatma Gandhi. It was composed earlier this year and is "dedicated to the sacrifice and courage of health workers during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.' It exists in several versions for choir, and for solo voice.
 
The original version for solo voice and keyboard was performed virtually by Aled Jones with the composer (see video), in support of the Healthcare Workers' Foundation in the UK, a charity caring for the welfare and well-being of those fighting to keep us healthy and safe during the COVID-19 crisis, and beyond:
 
In a version for voice and small orchestra Loving Kindness is currently being heard on Classic FM and Scala Radio as it features on Jones' latest album 'Blessings', riding high at No 1 in the UK Classical Chart.
 
And a version for solo soprano and organ was launched at St Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas earlier this year, by husband and wife duo Grace Roman. They performed it online in order to raise awareness and support for Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston’s Refugee COVID-19 Emergency Fund (see video)
 
Loving Kindness was also premiered virtually in various choral versions during lockdown and is now available to download for use with your choir. There are three choral versions in all: