Music therapy in Victorian England: Frederick Kill Hartford and the Guild of St. Cecilia

Journal/Book: Music Therapy Perspectives. 1989; 7: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. National Association for Music Therapy. 17-22.

Abstract: The purpose of this article is to trace the growth and development of the Guild of St. Cecilia. This late 19th century organization was founded by Frederick Kill Hartford in London to provide music therapy to hospitalized patients. All information is derived from letters written by Hartford and editorials which appeared in British medical and music periodicals. Initially, the Guild enjoyed great success and was endorsed by such important psople as Florence Nightingale and Sir Richard Quain, physician to Queen Victoria. Rev. Hartford was astute in his observations that that the effects of music must be tested to find the most beneficial ways to be used as therapy. He envisioned an association that would provide live and transmitted music (via telephone) to London's hospitals. Ultimately, the organization failed to prosper because of lack of support from the press, limited financial resources, and Hartford's ill health. Despite this, the Guild was important becuase it kept alive the idea that music could be used therapeutically to benefit physically and mentally ill people.

Note: England, Guild-of-St.-Cecilia, Frederick-Kill-Hartford.

Keyword(s): music-therapy, history, historical-research, hospital, hospitalized.

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