Sacred Harp singing is named for the 1844 song book, The Sacred Harp by B.F. White and E.J. King. The Sacred Harp tradition developed out of the singing school movement which began in New England in the late 1700's, then spread to the rural South and finally to Texas. This allowed singing masters to teach people who could not read music how to sing. At the singing, singers sit in a hollow square with space in the middle for the leader to direct the tempo of each piece. Every willing singer is asked to lead one or two tunes, depending on the number of leaders in attendance.
Tenors face altos, basses the trebles.
The goal is to build a sound and spirit for the singers, rather than the listeners. This custom remains a distinct aspect of Sacred Harp singing. This traditional event was established in 1900 in Red Rock and has met every spring in the McMahan area since.