In 2007, my longtime duo partner Jorma Puusaag and I released our first album, Kiss on the Water, marking a significant milestone in our journey as Estonia’s longest-standing classical guitar duo. The album, recorded and mastered by Estonian Public Broadcast and released under Kitarrikool Records, blends both timeless classical guitar repertoire and premiere recordings of Estonian music.

The Concept Behind the Album

When selecting pieces for this album, we had one simple but essential criterion: the music had to sound beautiful. While this may seem obvious, our goal was to create an album that wasn’t just technically impressive but genuinely enjoyable to listen to. Half of the repertoire features works by Estonian composers, many of which had never been recorded before, and the other half consists of well-loved classical guitar works arranged for duo.

Tracklist and Notable Pieces

1. El pano moruno (arr. Len Williams)
2. Kergelt vaevatud – Tauno Aints (arr. Käo & Puusaag)
3. Spanish Dance No. 2 “Oriental” – Enrique Granados (arr. Heiki Mätlik)
4. Melodica minimale – Peeter Prints
5. Mälestuseks – Tõnu Laikre (Jorma’s solo)
6. Autumn Prelude – Robert Jürjendal (Kristo’s solo)
7. –11. Sonata – Sylvius Leopold Weiss (Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue)
8. Kurbuse rohi – Robert Jürjendal
9. Kiss on the Water – Tõnu Kõrvits
10. I.L.Y.B. – Tõnu Kõrvits
11. Hällilaul – Nikita Koškin
12. Marta – Margo Kõlar

Among the highlights is the album’s title track, “Kiss on the Water” by Tõnu Kõrvits—a piece the composer had written 15 years earlier but had never actually heard performed. The same goes for many of the other Estonian works on the album. As Andres Roots noted in a newspaper review, when Kõrvits first heard our recording in his car, he was so surprised that he had to pull over to listen more closely.

Expanding Estonia’s Classical Guitar Repertoire

Recording this album was more than just documenting our duo’s sound—it was also about contributing to Estonian classical guitar music. Many of the works by Estonian composers on this album had never been performed before, let alone recorded. Robert Jürjendal’s and Peeter Prints’ compositions were premiere recordings, and we also arranged Tauno Aints’ orchestral work for two guitars, making it more accessible to guitarists.

Our teacher, Heiki Mätlik, praised the project, highlighting how rare it was at the time to have an album dedicated to Estonian guitar music. He also noted the recording quality, which captured the nuances of our playing and the distinct character of our Spanish and Estonian-made guitars.

A Lighter Approach to Classical Guitar

One of my personal missions with this album was to challenge the serious and overly formal perception of classical guitar. Too often, classical guitar is presented in a way that feels rigid or academic. As I said in an interview at the time:

“I love the sound of the classical guitar, but I don’t like when it’s played with an overly serious face, as if it’s some kind of sacred high art. If electric guitar can be played in a relaxed, engaging way, why must classical guitar always be performed with hands folded on a stiff chair?”

This philosophy carried over into our live performances, including the album’s release concert at the Fiesta de la Guitarra festival in Tallinn, where we aimed to create a more relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for listeners.

Where to Listen

Now, more than 15 years later, Kiss on the Water is still available to stream. If you’d like to hear the album, you can find it on Spotify and other digital platforms.

For those who appreciate classical guitar duos, rare Estonian repertoire, and beautifully arranged classics, this album remains a special part of my musical journey.