The East Texas Musical Convention was organized in 1855. It is now usually called the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention. It is an annual gathering of shape note singers. Songs are sung a cappella from the Sacred Harp tunebook. The Convention is the oldest known singing convention in Texas, and the second oldest Sacred Harp Convention in the United States. The East Texas Convention was modeled after the older (now defunct) Southern Musical Convention established in 1845 by Benjamin Franklin White, the compiler of The Sacred Harp.
The East Texas Convention has a continuous history from 1868, the earliest year notated in its minutes. William Russell Adams, President of the Convention in 1874, 1884, and 1885, wrote to Aldine S. Kieffer, explaining that the convention missed a few years of meeting because of the American Civil War. Re-established after the war, a large influx of Georgia and Alabama settlers added to its strength. In its early years it was generally considered a forum of Christian worship. Today many are attracted to its folk music aspect.
Most older conventions moved about year to year by invitation. Since 1983 the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention has been held in the city of Henderson, Rusk County, Texas. It convenes in the Henderson Civic Center. The 160th anniversary in 2015 drew about 326 people from two countries (US & UK), with 14 different US states represented by attendees. The edition of the songbook used at the convention is The Sacred Harp, Revised Cooper Edition, 2012.
The East Texas Convention has a continuous history from 1868, the earliest year notated in its minutes. William Russell Adams, President of the Convention in 1874, 1884, and 1885, wrote to Aldine S. Kieffer, explaining that the convention missed a few years of meeting because of the American Civil War. Re-established after the war, a large influx of Georgia and Alabama settlers added to its strength. In its early years it was generally considered a forum of Christian worship. Today many are attracted to its folk music aspect.
Most older conventions moved about year to year by invitation. Since 1983 the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention has been held in the city of Henderson, Rusk County, Texas. It convenes in the Henderson Civic Center. The 160th anniversary in 2015 drew about 326 people from two countries (US & UK), with 14 different US states represented by attendees. The edition of the songbook used at the convention is The Sacred Harp, Revised Cooper Edition, 2012.
