East Texas Musical Convention

The East Texas Musical Convention, now usually called the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention, is an annual gathering of shape note singers. Songs are sung a cappella from the Sacred Harp tunebook. The Convention was organized in 1855, and is the oldest Sacred Harp convention in Texas, and the second oldest 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.

Related Topics:
A cappella - Sacred Harp - 1855 - Texas - United States - Southern Musical Convention - 1845 - Benjamin Franklin White

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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 Civil War. Re-establised 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.

Related Topics:
William Russell Adams - Aldine S. Kieffer - Civil War - Folk music

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Throughout its history, the East Texas Musical Convention has convened annually in six East Texas counties: Gregg, Harrison, Panola, Rusk, Smith and Upshur. The Convention presently meets for two days in Henderson, Texas on the weekend of the second Sunday in August. The current "textbook" of the Convention is The B. F. White Sacred Harp (2000 Edition), first revised by W. M. Cooper and others in 1902.

Related Topics:
East Texas - Gregg - Harrison - Panola - Rusk - Smith - Upshur - Henderson, Texas - August - W. M. Cooper - 1902

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