Music Therapy in Victorian England

Abstract

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