RONDO was founded on December 6 1996, when the group had its first Early Music performance. By that time it was clear that Kuressaare music circles were ready for the emergence of an Early Music Ensemble.
The IDEA to found and Early Music Ensemble occurred in Sweden at the beginning of the 1990s. The leader of Rondo became fascinated by Early Music upon an accidental meeting with Platens Pipare - a group of young players Early Music.
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY became possible thanks to Erling Lindvall - a music teacher in Gotland Music School, who brought a big delivery of woodwind instruments as a present, including several high quality recorders, to Kuressaare Music School.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS of performing Early Music were acquired at various courses and thanks to contacts with musicians dealing with Early Music.
The leader of RONDO acquired first systematic knowledge at courses organised by Tõnu Sepp (in 1996 and 1997). Later various recorder courses were organised by ERTA Estonia, which invited lectures from Holland, Finland, Germany, Sweden and Estonia. The understanding of Early Music and its present day interpretation has broadened considerably thanks to Neeme Punder - the organiser of Viljandi Early Music Festival. The real possibilities of the recorder as a professional instrument became evident during the concert trip to Cologne. Later Rondo has also performed in Finland, Sweden, Germany and Malta. Rondo's development has been enhanced by various contacts and acquaintances T. Maripuu acquired when organising Kuressaare Early Music Festivals in 1997 - 2004.
REPERTOIRE
Rondo mainly performs music of the 14th-17th century, including also folk music of different nations, arrangements of classical and contemporary recorder music.
INSTRUMENTS.
Recorders, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, bow psalter, bass rebec, Roman harp, gamba, harpsichord, and various percussion instruments.
NAME
The recorder ensemble or the Early Music Ensemble of Kuressaare Music School got its name Rondo in 2002 before the trip to Cologne.
