How did Arnold Dolmetsch and his family promote historically informed performance in the early 20th century?

Arnold Dolmetsch and his family were pivotal in establishing the modern movement toward historically informed performance by challenging late Romantic performance traditions. Their efforts focused on several key areas:12

• Instrument Restoration and Construction: Dolmetsch applied his expertise in instrument building to restore and reproduce early musical instruments, including harpsichords, lutes, viols, and recorders. He supervised the production of these instruments at facilities in Boston and Paris, and later built the first successful modern recorders.1
• Research and Consultation: He insisted on the rigorous study of original source materials to understand the authentic performance styles of music from the 17th and 18th centuries. His book, The Interpretation of the Music of the XVII and XVIII Centuries (1915), became a foundational text for the field.1
• Public Performance: Through chamber concerts featuring his family and other musicians, Dolmetsch demonstrated the unique sonorities of authentic instruments. These performances drew attention to small ensembles and provided a vital alternative to the large-scale, subjective interpretations common at the time.12
• Institutional Support: In 1916, he established a center for early music in Haslemere, England, and in 1928, the Dolmetsch Foundation was created to further promote his ideas and research.1