Dolmetsch Writings on the Viol

The Dolmetsch family was one of the pioneers in the performance on the viol as a solo instrument and in consort. Arnold Dolmetsch first became attracted to early English music when, searching for music for the viola d'amore, he discovered previously unknown works for the viol family. His daughter Hélène was one of the first virtuosi of the twentieth century and, later, his third wife Mabel, their sons Rudolph and Carl and daughters Cécile and Nathalie all performed as soloists and in consort. The Dolmetsch family continues to this day to perform professionally on all sizes of viol, from a pardessus de viole by Guersan to a bass viol by Stainer and, in Haslemere, we used to house a rare violone made by Maggini, now part of the Dolmetsch Collection of Instruments owned by the Horniman Museum, London.

Dolmetsch, Arnold. 'The Viols', The Consort 38 (1982), pp. 467-471.
Dolmetsch, Cécile. 'The Pardessus de Viol or Chanterelle', JVdGSA 3 (1966), pp. 56-59.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. Twelve Lessons on the Viola da Gamba, with Advice by Simpson, Mace, Marais, Rousseau, Le Blanc (London, 1950).
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'The First Essentials of Viola da Gamba Technique', The Strad 68 (1957), pp. 240-244.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'The Viola da Gamba as a Solo Instrument', The Strad 68 (1958), pp. 320-324.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'Ornamentation and Interpretation on the Viol', The Strad 68 (1958), pp. 400-406.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'The Consort of Viols', The Strad 69 (1959), pp. 312-318.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. The Viola da Gamba. Its Origin and History, its Technique and Musical Resources (London, 1962).
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'Of the Size of Viols', GSJ 17 (1964), pp. 24-27.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'Of Bridges and Fingerboards', Chelys 5 (1973- 1974), pp. 21-23.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'Bows and Bowing', JVdGSA 14 (1977), pp. 53-60.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. [trans.]. 'Jean Rousseau's Traité de la viole (1687)', The Consort 33 (1977), pp. 225-236; 34 (1978), pp. 302- 311; 36 (1980), pp. 365-370; 37 (1981), pp. 402-411; 38 (1982), pp. 463-466.
Dolmetsch, Nathalie. 'Antique Bowed Instruments in the Dolmetsch Collection', JVdGSA 15 (1978), pp. 51-87.