Brookwood Asylum: Music at the Centre of Moral Therapy

Abstract

Music was integral to the running of Brookwood Asylum from the outset, with the Medical Superintendent Thomas Nadauld Brushfield taking a proactive role in appointing the bandmaster and overseeing his work. Both Brushfield and Gillington, the chaplain, emphasised the therapeutic value of music, situating it firmly within the system of moral management. A band and choir were established with the asylum’s foundation, and an extensive programme of musical and theatrical entertainment in place by the mid-1870s. This included heavy use of internal staff members, with deliberate employment of musical attendants—sometimes with unintended consequences, as musicians did not always make good staff. An extensive collection of programmes from both concerts and dances allows for an investigation of repertoire across the last quarter of the century. Photos and employment records offer further opportunities for a detailed picture of the band’s musical forces and membership.