Henri Verbrugghen’s Auditory Utopianism

Abstract

This article explores aspects of modernity, reform and the senses in early twentieth century Australia using, as a case study, Henri Verbrugghen, the foundation director of the first state-supported Conservatorium in the British Empire. Verbrugghen saw his appointment as an opportunity to initiate a bold sensory experiment that could contribute to redefining Australian nationhood and, ultimately, the destiny of the world. The article explores Verbrugghen’s acoustic utopianism as an aspect of auditory history and uses his narrative to speculate on the larger, ambivalent relationship between the senses, sound, music and nation. This article has been peer-reviewed.