...According to 19th century psychiatrists at Bedlam Hospital in London. When the piper to Queen Victoria, Angus McKay (from Raasay), was admitted to the asylum in 1856, the admission records indicate that the supposed cause of his insanity was "disappointment and drink." Later notes say, "the cause of this illness can be traced to anxiety of mind and over study, having made music his ruling thought lately..."
Three years later he was transferred to the Crichton Royal in Dumfries and drowned whilst trying to escape.
The Bethlem Hospital archives contain many works of art, both by and of the inmates and their surroundings. In a couple of these, from the C19, showing the men at recreation, there is a lone fiddler. I guess it has been fairly commonly assumed that artistic endeavour and insanity went hand in glove down the ages.
Thankfully, the tide seems to have turned, and art therapy seems to be one way of offering people some hope and dignity. For anyone near Croydon (London), you can catch the Bethlem art expo at the library there- until the weekend, I think. Very moving.
Before I became legally old enough to drink alcoholic beverages in public, I had already been playing music for twelve years. Does this mean I was already insanely crazy or was the consumption of alcoholic beverages the final straw that pushed me over the edge?
Victorian lunatics set the standards of insane art very high. The best known lunatic painter is probably Richard Dadd, who murdered his father and spent the rest of his life inside, painting very detailed and complicated fairy scenes. He'd been a young prodigy as an artist before he flipped, which may well account (at least partly) for why he flipped.
Too much music and drink cause insanity...
Too much music and drink cause insanity...
...According to 19th century psychiatrists at Bedlam Hospital in London. When the piper to Queen Victoria, Angus McKay (from Raasay), was admitted to the asylum in 1856, the admission records indicate that the supposed cause of his insanity was "disappointment and drink." Later notes say, "the cause of this illness can be traced to anxiety of mind and over study, having made music his ruling thought lately..."
Three years later he was transferred to the Crichton Royal in Dumfries and drowned whilst trying to escape.
If this sounds like you, be careful.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by DrSilverSpear
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
My grandfather died of music on the brain.
A grand piano fell on his head.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
I am a good swimmer.
Besides, I am trapped in a Salt mine...so escape doens't require a water route.
Its just that if I escape, Herself might kill me because I could not support the lifestyle to which we have become accustomed.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by zippydw
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
I think too LITTLE music and drink can cause insanity...
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Krick Stahlschwanz
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
You know what you get when you drop an old piano down a mine shaft?
A-flat minor....
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Pat Mustard
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
I believe music and drink keep me from going insane.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
sanity is subjective
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by llig leahcim
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
The Bethlem Hospital archives contain many works of art, both by and of the inmates and their surroundings. In a couple of these, from the C19, showing the men at recreation, there is a lone fiddler. I guess it has been fairly commonly assumed that artistic endeavour and insanity went hand in glove down the ages.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
...which is really just jealousy talking right there. Sour grapes from the artistically impaired.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Too much insanity causes music and drink
- I wonder if the physicians at Bedlam ever looked on it that way round...
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
I don't know about drink - I haven't touched it in 17 years. But too much music, definitely... or is it insanity that causes too much music?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
Thankfully, the tide seems to have turned, and art therapy seems to be one way of offering people some hope and dignity. For anyone near Croydon (London), you can catch the Bethlem art expo at the library there- until the weekend, I think. Very moving.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Here Lyeth
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
Before I became legally old enough to drink alcoholic beverages in public, I had already been playing music for twelve years. Does this mean I was already insanely crazy or was the consumption of alcoholic beverages the final straw that pushed me over the edge?
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by fauxcelt
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
Victorian lunatics set the standards of insane art very high. The best known lunatic painter is probably Richard Dadd, who murdered his father and spent the rest of his life inside, painting very detailed and complicated fairy scenes. He'd been a young prodigy as an artist before he flipped, which may well account (at least partly) for why he flipped.
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by nicholas
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
What about Ivor Gurney, English poet and composer, also bipolar, who composed some absolutely beautiful songs - short biographies here:
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWgurney.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivor_Gurney
# Posted on March 18th 2009 by Rudall the time
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
But to get back to the original question......
.....it certainly seemed true at the pub on Tuesday ( well, it was St Pat's ).........
# Posted on March 19th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Too much music and drink cause insanity...
No one is insane unless they get caught.
Queen's piper huh?
# Posted on March 23rd 2009 by Mozle