What's Happening?
Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh are collaborating on a project to preserve approximately 200 songs by prolific Pittsburgh-based musician Charles H. Pace. This initiative is made possible by a nearly $190,000 grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Associate Professor of Music Mark A. Boyle from Seton Hill University will work with Christopher Lynch, Ph.D., head of the Theodore M. Finney Music Library at the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh houses the Charles and Frankie Pace Collection, which is a significant archive of modern Black gospel music. The project aims to create a critical edition of Pace’s complete songs, which were largely unpreserved or unrecorded after his death in 1963, despite his and his wife Frankie's efforts to build a nationwide distribution network for his music through Black-owned stores in the 1940s and 1950s. The original printing plates for his music were later salvaged and brought to the University of Pittsburgh but were not in a usable state for printing.
Why It's Important?
This preservation project is crucial for safeguarding a significant part of American musical heritage, particularly the history of Black gospel music. Charles H. Pace's work represents an important era in the development and popularization of gospel music, and its preservation ensures that future generations can access and study these historical compositions. The collaboration between Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh highlights the importance of academic institutions in cultural preservation. The NEH grant underscores the federal government's commitment to supporting humanities projects that contribute to the understanding and appreciation of diverse American cultural expressions. The creation of a critical edition will not only make Pace's music accessible for scholarly research but also enable performances and recordings by professional ensembles and various choirs, potentially reintroducing his work to a wider audience.
What's Next?
The project will involve a highly detailed process of engraving, where Boyle and Seton Hill students will input the original source material from Pace's printing plates into professional music engraving software. This will result in modern editions suitable for performance, complete with critical notes on the history of each piece, source material, and editorial choices. Seton Hill music students will gain practical experience in music engraving and learn about the features of early Gospel music, specifically that created in western Pennsylvania. The ultimate goal is to produce a comprehensive critical edition of Pace's songs, which will support future performances and recordings by various musical groups. This effort builds upon previous work by Lynch, who initiated a project in 2021 to promote research and use of the Pace Collection, including co-sponsoring a Pace concert and making studio recordings of several songs.
Beyond the Headlines
The preservation of Charles H. Pace's music extends beyond mere archival work; it addresses a historical oversight where the contributions of Black artists, particularly in genres like gospel, were often under-recorded and under-preserved. This project helps to rectify that by bringing to light the work of a musician who played a vital role in shaping American music. It also highlights the ethical responsibility of institutions to actively seek out and preserve cultural artifacts from marginalized communities. The involvement of students in the engraving process provides a unique educational opportunity, connecting them directly with historical source material and the technical aspects of music publishing. This initiative contributes to a broader understanding of American cultural history, emphasizing the diverse origins and influences that have shaped the nation's artistic landscape.
