Henry Francis Sefton

Sefton, Henry Francis

Henry Francis Sefton. Teacher, choirmaster, b Worcester, England, ca 1808, d Toronto 21 May 1892. A participant in English music festivals and a teacher of vocal music, he was engaged by Egerton Ryerson (who established the educational system in Ontario) and in 1858 moved to Canada to teach music in Toronto's Normal and Model schools. Remaining there as music master until 1882, he also taught in public schools and at the Mechanics' Institute, applying the fixed-doh sight-singing systems of the Paris pedagogue Guillaume-Louis-Bocquillon Wilhem and of John Hullah. He compiled the earliest music books in Ontario intended specifically for school use: Three-part Songs (Toronto 1869, 1879), which included 18 of his own songs, and A Manual of Vocal Music (Toronto 1871). Nordheimer in 1860 published his song 'Welcome to Canada' with lyrics by Rev E. Denroche and a dedication to HRH the Prince of Wales. His successor, Alexander T. Cringan, considered Sefton a 'fine theoretical musician.' Two of Sefton's songs have been reprinted in CMH, vol 3.

See also School music.