Music for the dying: A personal account of the new field of music thanatology: History, theories, and clinical narratives

Journal/Book: Advances. 1993; 9: 36-48.

Abstract: Discusses the historical and clinical aspects of music thanatology, the practice of attending to the terminally ill and dying with live prescriptive music, specifically structured singing and harp playing. Six educational assumptions fundamental to the music thanatologist are delineated: (1) Dying should be recognized as a spiritual process and as an opportunity for growth, (2) the musical deathbed vigil is a contemplative practice with clinical applications, (3) death is part of the life cycle and should not be considered a failure, (4) how a person dies is as important as how they lived, (5) music thanatology is not merely a career, and (6) there needs to be educational support of individuals and communities in death and dying processes. Music thanatology includes all the characteristics of music therapy, but differs in that it is solely concerned with addressing the complex needs of the dying.

Note: historical & clinical aspects of music thanatology; terminally ill patients

Keyword(s): Music ; terminally ill patients; death and dying

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