NEEME PUNDER

Flute

Classical, Baroque, Renaissance and ethnic flutes, recorders... Born in the Flutish Kingdom!

Biography

Flautist Neeme Punder (1958) is one of the most active early music players and researchers in Estonia. He is highly rated both as flute soloist as well as chamber musician. His musical growth-bed for more than 26 years has been the early music consort Hortus Musicus. This afore-mentioned long-lasting career in the consort has given him enormous knowledge in early music interpretation and historical instruments. He has participated in all the ensemble’s most important tours and performances at festivals and prestigious concert halls in Europe, Israel, the USA, Japan and Russia. By today Neeme Punder is considered to be one of the most respected early music performers and specialists. For many years he has been the artistic director and enthusiastic leader of Viljandi Early Music Festival as well as initiator of several concert series and festival Flutish Kingdom. 1998–2005 Neeme Punder was the artistic director of Viljandi Linnakapell − the oldest early music consort in Estonia.
As a versatile musician he is also held in high esteem as performer of contemporary music and first performer of several works by Estonian composers like Peeter Vähi, Galina Grigorjeva, René Eespere, Helena Tulve, Toivo Tulev and Tõnu Kõrvits to name just a few. His stage-partners have been Aleksey Lubimov, Tatiana Grindenko, Gidon Kremer, Paul Hillier, Natalia Gutman, Daniel Raiskin, Oleg Kagan, Aina Kalnciema, Matti Helin, Patrick Galois, David James, Tõnu Kaljuste, Ain Anger, Toomas Vavilov et al. He has also played in several ensembles (among others Hortus Musicus 1979–2005, Glasperlenspiel Sinfonietta, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Baroque Soloists, Nyyd Ensemble et al) as well as international projects like the Finnish-Estonian Baroque Orchestra, Art Russica, Sebra, Barocco a Tre, Early Music Academy and many others. Currently he belongs to the core of contemporary music ensemble − Reval Ensemble − and also group Elavad Klassikud (‘Living Classics’) and the woodwind quintet of the Estonian National Opera.
Neeme Punder’s solo album The Flutish Kingdom has been released by Erdenklang, 2001. His flute solos have been recorded in flute concerto by René Eespere (Antes, 1998), in Flatus II and Trivium by the same composer (Antes, 2001), in the suite by Johannes Talli (Emmanuel Recording Studios, 2003), in Scenario and Vaikiv Odalisk by Lepo Sumera (Megadisc Classics, 2003), in flute concerto A Chant of Bamboo by Peeter Vähi (ERP, 2006). He has been doing numerous radio recordings and has also been presented on more than 20 records with Hortus Musicus.
A huge part of Neeme Punder’s work is taken by teaching activities. He has been teaching flute and recorder in Viljandi Music School, at the Latvian Academy of Music and at Tallinn Music High School (since 1995) and is professor at the Viljandi Academy of Culture by Tartu University and lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Music. He has conducted early music masterclasses in Finland, Germany, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and elsewhere.
Neeme Punder graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1981 as flutist under the supervision by Elmar Peäske and has completed his education with Wilbert Hazelzet, Walter van Hauwe and Marjike Miessen in the Netherlands. He has been awarded the Grand Prix at the Estonian Wind Players’ Competition in 1979.
Neeme Punder is a founding member and member of the board of the Estonian Flautists’ Society, member of the board of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians, member of music expert group in Estonian Cultural Endowment. Since 2005 he is a concert producer in the Estonian National Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert and since 2011 the general manager of Võru Music School.

Main repertoire

J van Eyck: The Flutish Kingdom
Flute canzonas and sonatas: Frescobaldi, Uccellini, Fontana, Schmelzer, Merulo, Casa, Bassano, Castello, Cima, Ricci
G Ph Telemann: Tafelmusik, Parisian quartets, flute concertos and suites, 12 Fantasias for Transverse Flute without Bass, flute sonatas, duos
J J Quantz: flute concertos, flute sonatas, duos
W A Mozart: flute quartets, flute concertos, flute sonatas
L van Beethoven: Serenade for Flute, Violin and Viola Op 25, 6 Variation Cycles for Flute and Piano Op 105, 10 Variation Cycles for Flute and Piano Op 107
A Vivaldi: Four Seasons, sonatas for flute and recorder, concertos for flute and recorder
A Corelli: sonatas for flute and recorder
G Fr Händel: sonatas for flute and recorder
M Marais: flute sonatas and trios
F Couperin: Quatre Concerts Royaux, Les Goûts-Réunis ou Nouveaux Concerts, Les Nations, flute sonatas
J Ph Rameau: Pièces de clavecin en concerts
J Haydn: flute sonatas, flute quartets, flute trios
J S Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos 2, 4 & 5, Triple Concerto for Flute, Violin and Keyboard, Suite No 2 BWV1067, Partita for Solo Flute BWV1013, flute sonatas
C Ph E Bach: flute concertos, flute sonatas
M Blavet: flute sonatas
J-M Hotteterre: flute sonatas
J G Müthel: flute sonatas
J H Roman: flute sonatas
Flute Sonatas, concertos and chamber music: Hummel, Giuliani, Paganini, Rossini, Schubert, Donizetti, Reicha, Crusell, Chopin, Gade, Franck, Massenet, Rimsky-Korsakov, Köhler, Chaminade, Fauré, Roussel, Nielsen, Satie, Mendelssohn, Enescu, Casella, Varèse, Ibert, Martin, Prokofiev, Milhaud, Poulenc, Scelsi, Carter, Messiaen, Dutilleux, Arnold, Piazzolla, 武満 (Takemitsu), Ligeti, Donatoni, Crumb, Takemitsu, Gubaidulina, ყანჩელი (Kancheli), Pärt, Höller, Vasks, Saariaho, Salonen
G Grigorieva: Quasi niente, Lament
P Vähi: Flute concerto Chant of the Celestial Lake, A Chant of Bamboo, Digital Love, To His Highness Salvador D, Mystical Uniting
R Eespere: Flute Concertos Nos 1 & 2, Flatus II & III, Tres in unum, Modus vivendi, Trivium
U Sisask: Flute Concerto Leonids
H Tulve: Soarers
T Kõrvits: The Songs from Thule, Solano, Longer Than a Thousand Summers, Milky Way, The Chamber of Wind
L Sumera: To the Harmony, Odalisques, Scenario, For BBB and His Friend, Quasi improvisata, Pantomime, Play for Wind Instruments
E-S Tüür: Drama, Architectonics I & VII, Dick and Toff in Wonderland, Inner Monologue
H Eller: Three Pieces
E Tubin: Flute Concerto
 

Discography

	TELEMANN. QUARTETS Together with Hortus Musicus 2003 APEX / Warner Classics 2564 60636-2 G Ph Telemann, Concerto No 3 in A major, fragm, 151 sec, mp3
	DVD: CHARITY CONCERT FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE GREAT TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI Tallinn Sinfonietta, Hele-Riin Uib, conductor Jüri Alperten Work: A Chant of Bamboo by Peeter Vähi 2012 Estonia-Japan Association Live video on YouTube:
	TELEMANN. QUARTETS Together with Hortus Musicus Finlandia Records / Warner Classics
	THE FLUTISH KINGDOM Music: Jacob van Eyck Together with Peeter Vähi and Arsis 1996 Erdenklang 60932 #4, Laura, fragm, 86 sec, mp3
	PEETER VÄHI. A CHANT OF BAMBOO Together with: Tallinn Chamber Orchestra conducted by Risto Joost Live in Estonia Concert Hall, March 16th, 2006 2006 ERP 1006 A Chant Of Bamboo, fragm, live rec, 179 sec, mp3
	URMAS SISASK. NEW ZODIAC Together with Tiit Peterson 2013 TPNP2013 New Zodiac, Op 81, Serpens, fragm, 1 min 22 sec, mp3, 224 Kbps
	CD: FEBRUA Music by René Eespere 2010 ERP 3209
	Double-CD: ESTONIAN ORCHESTRAL MUSIC 1986–2004 Music: A Chant of Bamboo by Peeter Vähi Performed by: Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conductor Eri Klas 2005 Estonian Music Information Centre EMIC CD010 See live video A Chant of Bamboo with Neeme Punder also from YouTube:
	AVE... Music: anonymous, Guillaume de Machaut Together with Hortus Musicus 2005 ERP 805 Belicha, fragm, 103 sek, mp3
	MAYPOLE Music: Orlado di Lasso, Pierre Attaingnant, Moritz Landgraf von Hessen-Kassel jt Together with Hortus Musicus Erdenklang 70982 The Maypole, fragm, 113 sec, mp3
	VUESTROS AMORES, HE SEÑORA Music by Juan del Ensina Together with Hortus Musicus Erdenklang 50792
	TO HIS HIGHNESS SALVADOR D Together with Hortus Musicus 1997 Antes Edition Classics BM CD 31.9086
	2000 YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST Together with Kaia Urb, Hortus Musicus, The Bad Orchestra 1995 Forte FD 0016/2
	2000 YEARS AFTER THE BIRTH OF CHRIST Together with: Kaia Urb, Hortus Musicus, The Bad Orchestra 1995 Antes Edition Classics BM-CD 31.9059
	TAMULA FIRE COLLAGE Works: The Flutish Kingdom, 2000 Years After The Birth Of Christ 1999 Salumuusik CD-1054
	MYSTICA MYSTERIA IV Work: Pavaen Lachrimae (based on a tune by Jacob van Eyck) 2003 EFA 61696 2
	DIE KLASSIKER. MYSTICA MYSTERIA Work: Pavaen Lachrimae (based on a tune by Jacob van Eyck) 2005 Zoomica SPV DCD 089-81982
	MIROQUE Vol IV Work: Laura (based on a tune by J van Eyck) 1999 Euromedia CD 92750-22
	RENÉ EESPERE Together with Hortus Musicus 2000 Antes BM 31.9129
	BALTIC VOICES 3 Together with Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir & Paul Hillier 2005 Harmonia Mundi 807391

Press resonance

The third extraordinary gentleman of that evening was Neeme Punder (Baroque flutes). While the other members of ensemble left something to be desired in the dynamic scale, then his musical landscape was full of mountains and valleys. The most enjoyable was Vivaldi’s sonata for flute, cello and basso continuo. (Heili Vaus, Sirp, 31.03.08)

“Vaikiv Odalisk” by Lepo Sumera in Neeme Punder’s performance was the highlight of the concert. (Vahur Luhtsalu, Sirp, 06.10.00)

...mõned lood jäävad ehk teistest rohkem meelde. Nende seas anonüümse XIV sajandi autori väga lüüriline “Ave donna”, mida sopran Helle Mustonen ja Neeme Punder flöödil esitavad kaunikõlaliste legato’dega, nende muusikaline dialoog mõjub ühtaegu nii nukrameelselt tundeliselt kui elutargalt järelemõtlikult. (Igor Garšnek, Sirp, 02.12.05, Estonia, whole article)

Huvitavaid elamusi pakkus “Chant Of The Celestial Lake” (2000) flöödile ja kammerorkestrile, kus solistil on võimalik näidata suurt osa oma ametialastest oskustest. Mällu sööbisid Neeme Punderi “ehmatavad” repliigid, kus flötist lisaks kopsudest väljuvale õhule laskis käiku ka oma häälepaelad. (Sirp, 24.03.06, Estonia, whole article)
 

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