What’s a convention?
The UK Convention is the biggest singing event in the UK Sacred Harp singing calendar. An annual gathering of voices which draws people from across the UK and far beyond.
A convention is basically two All-Days back to back. That’s two full, intense days packed with singing, fellowship, great food and great fun.
The Convention travels to different UK location each year. This year, Manchester Sacred Harp are honoured to organise and host the event.
Step by step through the Convention
A convention is more formal than the drop-in singings you may be familiar with. Firstly, we ask people to tell us that they’re coming. Completing the registration form in advance is really helpful for our planning.
On Friday (Convention eve) there is a singing school, where you can learn about an aspect of the tradition as well as singing some of the songs we’ll talk about.
Then on the Saturday you’ll turn up at the singing. Probably the first thing you’ll want to do is take your contribution to the shared lunch to the kitchen to free up your arms. It’s really important that you label it properly for people who have allergies, and that you make sure your bowls/serving spoons have your name on so we can return them to you.
Next, go to the registration desk. You will complete a registration card (name, where from, whether you want to lead a song over the weekend or not). You’ll write yourself a name badge. If you have your own book, you can stamp it to commemorate the occasion. If you don’t own your own book, you will borrow one for the day.
Then head upstairs. (There’s a lift if you can’t manage the staircase). Drop your coat and bag off in the cloakroom so we can keep the aisles completely clear. All you need is your water bottle and your book.
Find a seat. Decide where to sit according to which voice part you sing. Just ask someone experienced if in any doubt. Avoid the front row but otherwise sit anywhere.
Go and grab yourself a drink from the refreshments table, and say hi to some people. Singing starts at 10.30am.
We’ll have a short break mid-morning and mid-afternoon and a longer lunch break.
You might take this opportunity to look at the merchandise we’ve lovingly made so that singers can take a reminder of this year’s Convention home with them.
Lunch will be downstairs. You’ll queue up, serve yourself, chat to your fellow singers / take the opportunity to rest your voice, queue up again for pudding, and feast.
Back to the singing, and as the blood sugar peaks so does the pace. It is a brain-melting, heart-pumping thrill. You can step out of the singing at any time (in between songs) if you need a break!
At some point in the day there’ll be a collection, where we pass a hat hand-to-hand for people to make voluntary donations to cover our costs.
At various points – at the start and end, and before lunch – there will be words of thanks or prayers – some secular, some not. There’s also a pause in our singing where we will remember the people who are not there – those who have died, and those who can’t be there due to ill health or other limiting reasons. This is a core part of the tradition and this quiet remembrance in the midst of an otherwise raucous day is something we hold very dear.
After the singing finishes, on the first day we will have a business meeting. We need the venue cleared quickly so some folks will clear up, but if you’re not in the business meeting or stacking chairs/washing up, we’ll probably just gently usher you out!
In the evening of the first day of singing there’s social event, where you can get to know people better, have a chat if you’ve any voice left, dance, or just relax with a drink.
And on the second day, we basically just repeat all of the above…
Can I come if I’ve never been before?
Yes, you absolutely can! It is part of the tradition of Sacred Harp to welcome and support new singers, so there is no ‘basic level requirement’ for you to attend.
Bear in mind that there is no instruction element though, and there’s very little time between songs to ask questions. It is mentally tiring, physically draining and emotionally uplifting… it’s a lot for one day!
If you can, we’d recommend that you get a little grounding in the basics first at your local singing. If it will be your first experience of singing Sacred Harp, read up as much as possible on what to expect. Watch singings online. Last year’s convention is a good starting point.
Etiquette
As with any community there are traditions and behaviours that are ‘just how it’s done’. But if you’re new, how are you supposed to know? Don’t worry – if you’re not sure, just ask. Rule No.1 is be kind. Stick to that and you can’t go far wrong.
Coughs and snots are most unwelcome guests. Please don’t come if you’re not well. We sing loud, long, and close together so germs spread like wildfire. If you think you’re coming down with something, keep your germs at home.
Bags and stuff You don’t need your things with you – for the benefit of good accessibility for all the community, we will ask you to put your bag and coat in the cloakroom. The venue is closed to the general public for the day, so it’s just us. Keep your water bottle with you, you’ll be needing that.
Where to sit? Unless you’re an experienced singer, avoid sitting on the front row. Otherwise, sit anywhere. Common practice is to rotate seats rather than ‘holding’ your seat for each session. Be prepared to move around after a break.
We sit in sections according to the voice part we sing. This is explained in the FAQs. You can move around in the break or even between songs if your voice isn’t comfortable.
What to talk about? Avoid politics and religion as a topic of conversation – let us celebrate what binds us in harmony and set divisive issues aside for now.
It’s worth telling people if you’re new, or anxious, or both. By and large, we Sacred Harp singers are an empathetic bunch and will be only too happy to chat about how you heard about Sacred Harp, or discuss the music.
When you arrive, people will be busy, distracted, chatting to old friends. So you may initially feel like a bit of an outsider. Please bear with us – we’re probably excited, or feeling shy and overwhelmed ourselves. We’ll settle into it, and so will you. Please know that we’re glad you’re here to sing with us.
When is it ok to talk and move about? Well, you’re not in school assembly, so in principle, any time. People are always quiet during the prayers (you don’t have to believe, just respect that others do. This music has roots in Christianity, and for some singers, this remains a form of worship). We are usually quiet between songs too because the person keying the song needs a bit of brain space.
Don’t be scared to take care of your own comfort factors. We sing seated. If you need to stretch your legs, pop to the loo, get yourself a drink, or move to a quieter spot, please take care of your own experience. Just wait until a song has finished and before the next one starts – you don’t have to wait for an official breaktime.
Children are welcome. They are often brought up in the tradition and they know that they are expected to be silent during quiet moments such as the memorial lesson, and not to run around and play in the main singing space. Often if there are two caregivers attending with a child/children, they will take it in turns to sing or childmind. If you’re bringing a child, make sure you bring entertainment with you, and please keep an active eye on their to make sure they’re safe and happy. The cloakroom, just off the main space, will also double as a play room for children.
Have a look at the other pages to get a sense of who we are and what we expect from each other. The Stay Safe and Be Kind page will help, plus also Access & Attitudes.
What to bring?
Book: You don’t need your own Sacred Harp song book! We have plenty of spares, so you can just borrow one for the day. If you really want your own, there will be some brand new books available for sale.
Money: the Convention is free to attend. Not having spare folding money should never be a barrier to singing with us. However, we list it here because we actively and publicly ask for donations, and it can be uncomfortable to have a hat passed around for donations without warning.
It’s part of the tradition to ask everyone to contribute what they can to cover the high costs of running such an event. There is no other way to pay for the event to take place.
You may also want some money on you to buy something from our home-made merchandise stall, and/or a drink or two at the evening social.
Many people bring cash, but we’ll have a card reader, so no-one needs to feel caught out.
Food: we have a bring and share lunch known as ‘dinner on the grounds’. This is contributed by all attendees each bringing one or two dishes to share each day. Sometimes enormous effort and expense goes into this, which is a beautiful thing to do as a gift to the community. Sometimes life just gets in the way and we nip to the supermarket to get some nice bread and cheese. All offerings are welcome. We’ll ask you to label the ingredients if homemade so that people with allergies and dietary needs can eat safely. If you have really strict requirements yourself, you may prefer to bring your own food – this is absolutely fine by us.
Drinks: We provide refreshments – tea, herbal teas, coffee and cold water. We’ll be using paper cups so you might want to bring a lidded water bottle or drinking flask. Great to be able to can sip between songs without risking kicking an open cup over.
Dress code: we don’t have one. You can wear a suit, a ballgown, jeans and tshirt or a highwayman costume for all we care. You can present however you feel comfortable. Just be respectful.
What to wear: Lightweight clothes, a hardworking deodorant and a hand-held fan is standard in warm weather. It gets hot when you’re singing at full tilt and chances are it’ll be toasty. Just in case it’s cooler than you’d like, pack a jumper/shirt/light scarf. Layers are your friend.
Practical stuff: Bring your reading glasses. Pack ear defenders if you might need them. Bring throat lozenges. Bring tissues / handkerchief. Bring a cushion or back support if sitting all day is uncomfortable.
Toys & books: If you need to keep children entertained. There isn’t much of an outdoor space (and the roads surrounding the venue are busy main roads) . Children are welcome to sit in with the singing, and welcome to stand in the centre with you if you’d like to lead a song. They by no means have to be in a different room, but that is an option if preferred.
Who’s doing what exactly?
Here’s a run down of the roles you’ll encounter, and what they’re doing:
The first team members you’ll meet will be heading up Reception. At the food drop-off point and registration desk lovely people will smile and welcome you. They’ll guide you through what to do in those first moments after arrival.
Upstairs you’ll help yourself to drinks courtesy of the Refreshments team. Endless pots of tea and coffee don’t make themselves – these folks are quiet heroes of a Convention, keeping us all in hot brews and iced cordials.
The Chair will open the singing, welcoming everyone and making announcements. They have oversight of the event plan. They’re only the Chair for this one special occasion.
The Chaplain arranges welcoming and closing prayers, which may be secular or religious in nature. There is no assumption that everyone believes the same thing, but respect shown for those who do have a faith. The Chaplain also organises Memorial Lessons. This is an important part of our tradition, where we take time in the day to reflect quietly together, and we speak the names of those who are not present – singers and people dear to us who have died, and singers unable to attend, often due to illness.
Notice a little table in the corner with someone shouting out who’s up next? That’s the Arranging Committee and it’s a skilled job. They decide who will lead a song next, calling out their name and hometown. It’s a time-efficient system, and makes sure everyone gets a fair chance to lead. They will aim for local people to lead first, warming up the singers so that the visitors who’ve travelled afar have the best experience. The Arranger can have huge impact on the flow of the day for everyone.
On the same table, the Secretary notes the names of the leaders and the song they lead. After the event these minutes are submitted to the official body, contributing to worldwide records.
The person who sings out our starting notes for every song is the Keyer. Keying is a musically skilled role. The written music itself does not specify what key to use. The person keying will select a key of convenience, looking ahead at the notes to makes sure each part will sing within their comfort zone. They’ll also take into consideration the voices in the room – they may pitch higher or lower depending on how warmed up or how tired the singers are.
A shared meal called dinner on the grounds is a key feature. Everyone brings something to the communal lunchtime feast. Often out of sight, but a role which underpins the day, is the person managing the kitchen. The Kitchen Manager‘s careful planning enables the feeding of the 5000 (well, 200) in just one hour of lunch break. It is an epic feat. (An army of assistance is needed , so do consider offering your services as a porter, washer-upper or table-wiper…)
A convention may falter without the work of a Treasurer. They collect donations on both days, requesting the essential contributions from singers which enable us to cover our costs.
A whole team of dedicated people underpin these roles, offering expertise and giving generously of their time and skills to make everything lovely for our fellow singers.
Welcome to our extraordinary community!
Manchester Sacred Harp 