Dialogue Viols present a programme celebrating the
music of pre-Revolutionary France and will introduce the
'laptop' member of the viol family, the pardessus de viole
or its cousin, the quinton. The pardessus was a relatively quiet
instrument having the flat back typical of tenor and bass viols,
with less resonating volume than those larger relatives.
The quinton was developed with a nod to the curved back
construction associated with the violin family to let the instrument
speak for itself within the viol family ensemble.

The programme includes music by French and Italian
composers including Marais, Corelli, Hotteterre