Peter DeWitt will present an organ recital as part of the organ rededication series Celebrating the Schanz, at Saint Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 465 11th Ave. North, Jacksonville Beach. The concert will take place at 3 p.m. Nov. 15 and will be followed by a light reception.
The theme of DeWitt’s recital is “A French Connection.” The connection is between J.S. Bach and the French influences he displayed in his monumental prelude and fugue in E flat major, sometimes known as the Saint Anne. This prelude and fugue were placed at the beginning and end of Bach’s Clavierübung III, a collection of 27 works climaxing Bach’s creative career.
Between the prelude and fugue, the recital will include more recent French organ works by César Franck, Jehan Alain and Marcel Dupré, as well as an original work by DeWitt for organ and recorder.
DeWitt holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan, studying with Marilyn Mason, and previously studied at the University of Florida with Willis Bodine. He retired to Jacksonville from a position as professor of organ and music theory at Shorter University in Rome, Georgia. He has since been a frequent performer and supply organist in the First Coast area and has also performed with RareSong, a Renaissance ensemble.
