Arnold Dolmetsch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arnold Dolmetsch
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Portrait of Arnold Dolmetsch playing a recorder, by Alvin Langdon Coburn, 1916
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Eugène Arnold Dolmetsch
24 February 1858 Le Mans, France
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| Died | 28 February 1940 (aged 82) Surrey, England
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| Alma mater | Royal College of Music Brussels Conservatoire |
| Occupation | musician, instrument maker |
| Spouse(s) | Marie Morel (1878－1898) Elodie Désirée (1899－1903) Mabel Johnston (1903－1940, his death) |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Rudolph Arnold-Dolmetsch Marie Zélie-Guillouard |
| Awards | Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur |
Arnold Dolmetsch (born February 24, 1858, died February 28, 1940) was a talented musician and instrument maker. He was born in France but lived most of his life in England. Arnold Dolmetsch helped bring back old music and instruments. He even started a workshop in Haslemere, Surrey, to build these special instruments.
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Early Life and Learning
Arnold Dolmetsch was born in Le Mans, France. His family had a business making pianos. This is where Arnold first learned how to build musical instruments. These skills would be very important later in his life.
He studied music at the Brussels Conservatoire. There, he learned to play the violin with a famous teacher, Henri Vieuxtemps. In 1883, he moved to London. He attended the Royal College of Music and earned a music degree in 1889.
Bringing Back Old Music
Arnold Dolmetsch worked for a short time as a music teacher. But he became very interested in old instruments. He saw many historic instruments at the British Museum. This inspired him to start making his own.
In 1893, he built his first lute, an old string instrument. Then he began making keyboard instruments. A famous designer named William Morris encouraged him to build his first harpsichord. Harpsichords are like pianos but make sound by plucking strings.
Dolmetsch also worked for instrument companies in other countries. He built clavichords and harpsichords for Chickering in Boston, USA (1905–1911). After that, he worked for Gaveau in Paris, France (1911–1914).
While in America, Dolmetsch helped a wealthy person, Miss Belle Skinner. She was able to fix many rare instruments. These included a spinet that once belonged to Marie Antoinette. Today, these instruments are part of Yale's amazing Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments.
The Haslemere Workshop
Later, Dolmetsch opened his own workshop in Haslemere, Surrey, England. Here, he made copies of many instruments from the 15th to 18th centuries. These included viols, lutes, recorders, and different keyboard instruments.
In 1915, he wrote an important book. It was called The Interpretation of the Music of the XVIIth and XVIIIth Centuries. This book helped people learn how to play old music in the correct, original way.
In 1925, he started a music festival. It's called the International Dolmetsch Early Music Festival. It happens every July in Haslemere.
Impact on Music
Arnold Dolmetsch helped bring back many forgotten English composers. These composers wrote music for groups of viols. A famous historian, Sir Henry Hadow, said Dolmetsch had "opened the door to a forgotten treasure-house of beauty."
He also played a big part in bringing back the recorder. He showed that the recorder could be a serious concert instrument. He also promoted it for teaching music in schools. This made old music easier for everyone to enjoy.
In 1937, he received a special award from the British government. In 1938, the French government made him a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. This is a very high honor in France.
The Dolmetsch Family
Arnold Dolmetsch was married three times. His third wife was Mabel Johnston, who was one of his students.
He encouraged his family to learn about making instruments and playing music. The Dolmetsch family often performed concerts together. They played instruments that were built in Arnold's workshops.
After Arnold Dolmetsch passed away in 1940, his family continued his work. They kept building and playing old instruments, carrying on his legacy.
- Mabel Dolmetsch (1874-1963) was Arnold's third wife. She was a skilled player of the bass viol. She also wrote a book about old dances.
- Cécile Dolmetsch (1904-1997) was his daughter. She was a soprano singer and played the pardessus de viole.
- Nathalie Dolmetsch (1905–1989) was another daughter. She continued her mother's work with old dances. She also played the viola da gamba. Nathalie started the Viola da Gamba Society in 1948.
- Rudolph Dolmetsch (1906-1942) was his son. He was a talented keyboard and gamba player, and a composer. Sadly, he died in a ship sinking in 1942.
- Carl Dolmetsch (1911-1997) was also his son. He was a famous recorder player. Carl took over his father's instrument-making business.
Images for kids
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A harpsichord spinet with Arnold Dolmetsch's inscription, in the studio of Swiss luthier, Claude Lebet
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Instruments built and restored by Dolmetsch in the Horniman museum, London, UK.
See Also
In Spanish: Arnold Dolmetsch para niños
- List of historical harpsichord makers
- John Challis (harpsichord), apprentice of Dolmetsch whose instruments gradually incorporated modern mechanics with traditional construction
