The Madman’s Orchestra
The Madman’s Orchestra by Edward Brooke-Hitching, published by Simon & Schuster, Limited on October 23, 2025, is a beautifully illustrated exploration of the history of music. This edition spans 256 pages and presents a captivating journey through the most eccentric and surprising stories in music history, revealing the strange episodes that have shaped this art form.
Readers will find a diverse array of topics, from prehistoric musical secrets to the influence of artificial intelligence on future compositions. The book uncovers curious tales, including unusual instruments and madcap musicians, while posing intriguing questions about the sounds of black holes and the peculiarities of compositions requiring helicopters. The Madman’s Orchestra offers a rich tapestry of musical history, featuring hoaxes, ghostly compositions, and the creativity that defines our musical imagination.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the bestselling author and former BBC QI Elf comes a fascinating and beautifully illustrated journey through the entire history of music. In The Madman’s Orchestra, join Edward Brooke-Hitching as he lifts the curtain on the strangest episodes from the entire history of music, taking us on a backstage tour of surprising and eccentric stories.
From the musical secrets of prehistoric monuments to the future of compositions by artificial intelligence, The Madman’s Orchestra uncovers the most curious tales, madcap musicians, and unusual instruments lost in time – and answers questions including:
- What does the song of a black hole sound like?
- Which composition requires four helicopters and a string quartet with strong stomachs to play it correctly?
- How exactly would the ‘cat piano’ sound, and would it be any more pleasing to the ear than the ‘hog harmonium’?
Discover musical hoaxes, compositions relayed by ghosts, the code-writing of ‘musical cryptography’, the pop songs smuggled past Soviet censors using X-rays, the beauty of Renaissance ‘eye music’, compositions by the Devil, the supernatural instruments played by witches, and the experimental female scientist who created the ‘visible voice’.
Fascinating, funny, and at times barely believable, The Madman’s Orchestra is a unique exploration of the history of music that will strike a chord with fans of beautiful books and bizarre history, and delight with a rich depth and variety of research that ultimately celebrates the boundless creativity of our musical imagination.
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