Church hosts post-COVID canata

The Long Beach Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) and Covenant Church will present “Unconditional Love” by British composer Howard Goodall on Sunday, May 21, at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Covenant Presbyterian Church, 607 E. Third St. Long Beach.

The public is invited to attend the free event.

The choral work will be the centerpiece of the annual guild service and installation of officers for the local AGO chapter. Leisure World resident Peter Bates is the the church’s minister of music and resident organist.

The Goodall cantata was composed as a musical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The composer refers to “Unconditional Love” as a “work of gratitude, remembrance and of hope for a world rebuilt. It gives thanks to all those whose sacrifice and selflessness have been so powerful and moving a feature of the COVID-19 crisis. It honors those who have died, as carers, as patients, as family members and dear friends. It also reflects how much we took for granted and the simple needs and pleasures that became ordinary lifelines during the lockdown.”

The church has assembled a professional brass ensemble and choral octet, who—along with soprano soloist Maria Schafer and pianist Althea Waites—will perform the half-hour work, according to Bates, who will conduct the work from the console of the church’s pipe organ. In addition, the audience will be invited to join in singing three hymns.

For additional information, call the church’s music department at at 562-437-0958, ext. 130.