Missionaries and Tonic Sol-fa music pedagogy in 19th-century China

Abstract

In the 19th century, Christian missionaries in China, as elsewhere, used the Tonic Sol-fa method of music instruction to aid their evangelizing. This system was designed to improve congregational singing in churches, Sunday schools and missions. The London Missionary Society and other evangelical groups employed the method. These missionaries took their message and their music throughout the world. The missionaries were generally convinced of the superiority and efficacy of their religion, their teaching methods and their music. Songs designed as didactic tools were and continue to be employed to impart moral and religious messages. Words sung were often deemed to have more effect than mere words. Music was implicit in missionary teaching and practices — no service was complete without a hymn. For this reason, finding an effective way to teach hymns became a priority. Music continues to be employed to carry messages considered significant and music educators are often expected to support such endeavours.