Short history

Piet Kunst was a recorder teacher at the music school in Leiden, The Netherlands, when he founded the Dutch Recorder Orchestra Praetorius in 1963. At that time, he thought it very important that eight of his most advanced students be given the opportunity to develop their ensemble skills. "It is nice to play a solo sonata", he said, "but the essence of making music is to play together". Within two years, the double quartet he had founded grew to a group of sixteen recorder players and was a great success.
For Piet Kunst, playing together was of primary importance, and as long as there was repertoire available, it would be performed. The group performed increasingly, made recordings and participated in the first three Dutch-German Recorder Days, winning the first prize every time. Praetorius was now well established and, when Piet passed away in 1996, his son Norbert took over the leadership and has been its driving force ever since, increasing Praetorius' reputation around the world.
During the celebrations for Praetorius' thirty-fifth anniversary, a new path was taken to include theatrical elements in its programming and art, dance and poetry play an important role in its program entitled The Four Elements. Praetorius has come to enjoy this type of programming and now includes a theatrical production in its performances every year.