Peter Wendland, Jacqui Robertson-Wade & Dialogue Viols
Biography Peter Wendland, Jacqui Robertson-Wade & Dialogue Viols
Dialogue Viols
was formed to bring the beautiful yet rarely performed music of the French Baroque for two violas da gamba to audiences. This includes the rich source of music for the smallest members of the viola da gamba family, the six pardessus de viole and five string quinton, as well as the seven string bass viola da gamba, also known as bass viol.
If it wasn’t for lockdown, Peter Wendland and Jacqui Robertson-Wade, who are established performers and teachers, may not have started playing viols together! However, musicians everywhere learnt how to use technology to enable them to continue working and playing music together.
Peter and Jacqui were living in different countries when they started to play viols online and were able to explore new repertoire and develop specialist concert programmes. They share a love of French Baroque music and enjoy playing different sizes of viol. Now that lockdown is over, they rehearse in person as well as online.
Dialogue Viols have been awarded two grants from the Continuo Foundation and Angel Early Music towards a recording of their new programme called ‘Before the Guillotine.’ Joined by Ibrahim Aziz and Lynda Sayce, Peter and Jacqui are now enjoying playing repertoire for the quinton – (hybrid viol/violin), as well as bass viols. The programme, which features French and Italian music for two quintons and continuo by Dandrieu, Hotteterre, Corelli, Morel, Marais and Leclair, with a trio for three bass viols, by Forqueray. Our recording, in April 2025, is rather special as we will be playing original viols and cello.
