Water Music – Making Music in Spas

Music has always been a central feature of the experience of taking the waters in Europe’s spas and Buxton has a rich history of spa music.

Initially, a uniformed band provided by the Duke of Devonshire played while people took the health-giving waters. Later, a 30-piece orchestra took up residence in the Octagon. Ian Bradley tells the story of music making in spas, focusing especially on Buxton, revealing romances between musicians, candid accounts of concerts and conjuring up the unique atmosphere of ‘water music’.