Alabama Sacred Harp Singing Convention

The Alabama Sacred Harp Singing Convention is a community gathering centered around singing traditional shape-note hymns from the Sacred Harp tunebook. Participants, often in a large, open setting, sing these songs by sight—reading music with distinctive shapes—without instrumental accompaniment. The event emphasizes communal participation, blending historical musical traditions with a spiritual and cultural experience. It typically occurs in Alabama, reflecting deep roots in Southern musical heritage, fostering fellowship, and maintaining a living connection to American sacred music's history and its communal, participatory spirit.