Greenfield's First United Methodist Church to host Centennial Celebration featuring David Pettit Sunday, Nov. 4
By CINDI PEARCE
For The Highland County Press
GREENFIELD – Mark your calendar for Sunday, Nov. 4. The Centennial Celebration of Greenfield’s First United Methodist Church building, featuring organist/composer David Howard Pettit, is set for 6:30 p.m. in the church sanctuary.
Pettit will premiere compositions commissioned expressly for the occasion. Pettit’s songs are inspired by the J.&R. stained-glass windows (circa 1912) that beautify the sanctuary.
The composer is the son of the late Reverend Howard Pettit, who was the FUMC minister in the 1960s and early 1970s. Pettit, who lives in Tulsa, Okla., graduated from McClain High School in 1971.
Appearing along with Pettit is the Centennial Orchestra, consisting of a string quintet, woodwind quintet and soprano and alto soloists, all of whom are professionals from Cincinnati area orchestras, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and Xavier.
The event is to mark the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the church edifice and the stained-glass windows. The original stained-glass windows installed in 1902 were crafted by Tiffany Glassworks of New York City and cost $10,000.
Tragically, the church burned to the ground on April 28, 1910, decimating the structure and windows.
The replacement windows were installed in 1912, by the J.&R. Lamb Company. The windows are unparalleled works of art and Pettit’s passion.
As a teenager, the musician/composer lived in the manse located next door to the church. Pettit spent a lot of time in the church, where he developed a vast appreciation for the stained-glass windows.
Although Pettit hasn’t lived in Greenfield for more than 40 years, he remains a member of the FUMC of Greenfield.
While attending McClain High School, Pettit studied piano with renowned teacher Wallace Fisher, and music theory and appreciation with Robert Anderson, who was the MHS Choral director at the time. Mr. Anderson is a resident of Greenfield.
[[In-content Ad]]
Pettit was a full-scholarship student at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, from which he graduated with degrees in Organ Performance and Music Education.
His organ studies were with Professor Wayne Fisher, chairman of the Organ Dept., UC-CCM, and a revered student of Marcel Dupre.
During the 1990s, Pettit studied in Paris with Naji Hakim, a brilliant French composer and Organiste Titulaire at the Eglise de la Trinite.’
An accomplished composer, organist, church musician and educator, Pettit’s career spans more than 35 years during which he has appeared throughout the United States mainline and Hawaii, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China and the West Indies.
Pettit has played as many as 30 concerts a year and has given numerous workshops and master classes, including recent events at the Beijing Conservatory and the Juilliard School of Music.
Pettit enjoyed a 15-year tenure as organist at the Westwood First Presbyterian Church, followed by 10 years at the College Hill Presbyterian Church, both in Cincinnati.
To date, his compositions encompass 70 works, including everything from piano solos to choral anthems and full orchestral writing. He has written major works such as “An Ohio Symphony,” for the Bicentennial of the State of Ohio (2003) and has had works premiered across the United States, in Europe and China.
Recent commissions include “A Good Friday Service,” for College Hills Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, and two major choral /brass works for the First Presbyterian Church (“Gloria”) and First United Methodist Church (“Te Deum”) of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He has also written a full orchestral piece with organ for the 30th anniversary of the Signature Symphony in Tulsa, titled the Eagle.
He has held management and product specialist positions in the music industry, including a 20-year tenure with Rodgers Organs of Hillsboro, Ore.
Pettit is a Steinway/Rogers co-manager at Saied Music, Tulsa, Okla., an organist and resident composer of the First Presbyterian Church, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and organist of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra. He is published by MorningStar, Theodore Presser and David E. Smith.
He and his wife, Deborah, have a grown daughter, Abbe.
Pettit will premier the two commissioned compositions at the centennial event, including “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies” and “Lux Aeterna” on the pipe organ with the Centennial Orchestra and Soprano Mary Elizabeth Southworth and Contralto Adria Caffaro.
Earlier on Sunday, Nov. 4, the All-Saints Sunday celebration takes place during morning church service (10:45 a.m.) including the lighting of memory candles honoring former church members.
In addition, there will be an appearance by Edward Lee and Lulu McClain, portrayed by Danny and Susan Long. The McClains funded and oversaw the construction of the present church building.
The Cockerill Bell Choir will perform in honor of a former bell choir member. Church member Ed King will present a time capsule constructed out of wood from the original church building.
The prelude starts at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4. The service begins at 7 p.m. This is free to the public. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served afterward in the fellowship hall.
Child care will be available during both the morning and evening services.
The First United Methodist Church is located at the corner of South Street and South Fourth Street in Greenfield.