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The {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra'''|東京佼成ウインドオーケストラ|Tōkyō Kōsei Uindo Ōkesutora|extra=abbreviated '''TKWO'''}} is a professional [[concert band]] based in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. It is widely regarded as one of the world's finest, only to be rivalled by the [[Dallas Wind Symphony]] in the recent years. {{cn|date=April 2019}}
The {{nihongo|'''Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra'''|東京佼成ウインドオーケストラ|Tōkyō Kōsei Uindo Ōkesutora|extra=abbreviated '''TKWO'''}} is a professional [[concert band]] based in [[Tokyo]], [[Japan]]. TKWO has been called Japan's premiere wind ensemble''<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: A case study of - ProQuest |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/214474758 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=www.proquest.com |language=en}}</ref>'', one of the most influential Japanese wind bands,''<ref name=":32">{{Cite book |url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-94-007-2178-4 |title=Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-94-007-2178-4}}</ref>'' and one of the world's leading professional civilian wind bands.''<ref name=":32" />''


== History ==
TKWO was established in 1960 by the lay Buddhist organization [[Rissho Kosei Kai]] at its headquarters in central Tokyo. Originally known as the Tokyo Kosei Symphonic Band, it was renamed in 1973 to reflect its growing professionalism and scale of activities. TKWO Is highly active, both within Japan and abroad, as a professional touring and recording ensemble. Its members include some of the finest woodwind, brass, and percussion players in Japan.
TKWO was established by Kohno Kozo''<ref name=":42">{{Cite journal |last=Pham |first=Danh T. |date=2011 |title=The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: An Historical Perspective of the Organization |journal=SHAREOK |via=ShareOK}}</ref>'' in 1960 in association with the lay-Buddhist organization [[Rissho Kosei Kai]]''<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Profile｜TOKYO KOSEI WIND ORCHESTRA |url=https://www.tkwo.jp/en/about/ |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=www.tkwo.jp |language=ja}}</ref>''. Kohno, who was previously enrolled in the Toyama Academy Military Band of the Japanese Army, proposed the idea to the group's founder, Niwano Nikkyo, as a worship group. Originally known as the Tokyo Kosei Symphonic Band, it served as a ceremonial consort, with every member participating in Rissho Kosei-kai. Kiboni Moete served as the band's conductor, while Kohno joined as an administrator. The band was renamed in 1973 as its membership and profile grew.''<ref name=":0" />'' Kohno would retire from TKWO in 1979 but continued to work in educational programs for children through music in Rissho Kosei-kai until his death on August 22, 1996.''<ref name=":42" />''


The orchestra was further developed by American conductor and founder of the [[Eastman Wind Ensemble]], [[Frederick Fennell]].''<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":0" />'' Fennell, originally a guest conductor for the orchestra, formally joined as a permanent instructor in 1984.''<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":32" />'' Fennell is credited with increasing the band's recording output, diversity in performed compositions, and its reputation for touring performances in schools.''<ref name=":32" /><ref name=":42" />''
From 1984 to 1996 the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra was directed by renowned American maestro [[Frederick Fennell]], and as of December 2014 is directed by Takeshi Ooi.<!-- careful when wikilinking, this is also a character from [[Death Note]] --> TKWO has released more professional recordings than any other wind orchestra in the world, numbering in the hundreds of album titles. It has also played an active role in the commissioning of original works for wind band by both Japanese and foreign composers. Japanese composers whose works have been championed by TKWO include [[Yasuhide Ito]], Hiroshi Hoshina, Tetsunosuke Kushida, [[Akira Miyoshi]], Michio Mamiya, Bin Kaneda, [[Masamichi Amano]], [[Toshiro Mayuzumi]], [[Toshio Mashima]], Isao Matsushita, and many others. Guest conductors of TKWO have included [[Alfred Reed]], [[Donald Hunsberger]], [[Arnald Gabriel]], [[Robert Jager]], [[Ray Cramer]], Craig Kirchhoff, and Václav Blahunek.


Fennell left his conducting position in 1994''<ref name=":32" />'' but remained as Music Director until 2000 and, as of 2014, is Conductor Laureate.''<ref name=":42" /><ref name=":0" />'' He was replaced by [[Douglas Bostock]] in 2000 and by by [[Paul Meyer (clarinetist)|Paul Meyer]] in 2009.''<ref name=":0" />'' As of 2014, Takeshi Ooi<!--careful when wikilinking, this is also a character from [[Death Note]]-->is the conductor.''<ref name=":0" />''
The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra has often performed in Fumon Hall, an enormous auditorium located on the campus of the [[Rissho Kosei Kai]] religious organization in central Tokyo. Fumon Hall also regularly hosted the final level of the [[All-Japan Band Association]] national band competition until 2011. With nearly 14,000 participating bands (and around 800,000 contestants nationwide) the AJBA band contest is currently the world's largest music competition. TKWO is usually hired to make the definitive premier recordings of the required pieces commissioned each year for the enormous competition. TKWO is largely credited with defining the wind band idiom in Japan, where it is enthusiastically supported among school and community ensembles.


== Further reading ==
== Operation ==
TKWO's headquarters are located on the Rissho Kosei-kai campus in central [[Tokyo]], close to Fumon Hall, their primary recording venue.''<ref name=":32" />'' TKWO's finances are supervised by the Rissho Kosei-kai, providing financial support during local and regional concerts.''<ref name=":42" />''
* David G. Hebert (2012). "[https://www.springer.com/education+%26+language/book/978-94-007-2177-7 Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools]". Dordrecht and New York: Springer.

* [http://sociomusicology.blogspot.com David G. Hebert] (2001). The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: A Case Study of Intercultural Music Transmission. Journal of Research in Music Education, 49(3), pp. 212-226.
TKWO has hired women as members in the upper brass, woodwinds, and percussion sections, as well as promoting pieces by Japanese women composers, including Chieko Arai and Etsuko Hori.''<ref name=":13" />''
* Danh T. Pham. (2011). ''Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: An Historical Perspective of the Organization''. Doctoral dissertation, University of Oklahoma (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses).

* Roger E. Rickson (1993). Ffortissimo: A Bio-Discography of Frederick Fennell. Cleveland: Ludwig.
== Discography and Style ==
* Miho Takekawa. (2011). ''Japanese Band Culture: How it is Sustained''. Doctoral dissertation, University of Washington (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses).
TKWO has recorded more than 130 albums, commissioned numerous original works, sponsored band festivals and school clinics, and toured internationally with guest conductors such as [[Arnald Gabriel]], [[Robert E. Jager|Robert Jager]], Craig Kirchhoff, and [[Alfred Reed]].''<ref name=":13" />'' American reviewer Ron McDonald called the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra recordings "one of the major releases of the decade" and "almost an encyclopedic survey of symphonic wind music."''<ref name=":32" />''
* Tim Willson (1986). Japanese Bands: What Makes Them So Good? Music Educators Journal, 72(5).

TKWO employs guest conductors from the United States and Europe. Most of TKWO's performed pieces are of Western origin, with Fennell's tenure marking a shift towards original works by American composers.''<ref name=":42" />''

== Impact and Outreach ==
TKWO is well-known for its involvement in local schools. TKWO sponsors band workshops and gives outreach to schools, being one of the most important models for school bands within Kansai.''<ref name=":13" />'' Fennell was a strong proponent of regular tours while he conducted TKWO.''<ref name=":42" />''

[[Ray Cramer]], an American band conductor, stated that few wind ensembles existed when he first started conducting in Japan and that the popularity of TKWO started the trend of smaller instrumentation over the then-preferred large symphonic groups.''<ref name=":42" />''


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:54, 6 January 2023

Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
Also known asTKWO, TOKWO
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresClassical, Contemporary, Pop, Jazz, Film Music
OccupationConcert band
Years active1960-present
MembersConductor Laureate
Frederick Fennell
Conductor
Takeshi Ooi
Special Guest Conductor
Thomas Sanderling
Principal Guest Conductor
Norichika Iimori
Pops Director
Koichi Fujino

Previous Conductors
Paul Meyer (Principal Conductor)
Douglas Bostock (Permanent Conductor / Principal Guest Conductor)
Websitewww.tkwo.jp

The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (東京佼成ウインドオーケストラ, Tōkyō Kōsei Uindo Ōkesutora, abbreviated TKWO) is a professional concert band based in Tokyo, Japan. TKWO has been called Japan's premiere wind ensemble[1], one of the most influential Japanese wind bands,[2] and one of the world's leading professional civilian wind bands.[2]

History

TKWO was established by Kohno Kozo[3] in 1960 in association with the lay-Buddhist organization Rissho Kosei Kai[1][2][3][4]. Kohno, who was previously enrolled in the Toyama Academy Military Band of the Japanese Army, proposed the idea to the group's founder, Niwano Nikkyo, as a worship group. Originally known as the Tokyo Kosei Symphonic Band, it served as a ceremonial consort, with every member participating in Rissho Kosei-kai. Kiboni Moete served as the band's conductor, while Kohno joined as an administrator. The band was renamed in 1973 as its membership and profile grew.[4] Kohno would retire from TKWO in 1979 but continued to work in educational programs for children through music in Rissho Kosei-kai until his death on August 22, 1996.[3]

The orchestra was further developed by American conductor and founder of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Frederick Fennell.[3][4] Fennell, originally a guest conductor for the orchestra, formally joined as a permanent instructor in 1984.[1][2] Fennell is credited with increasing the band's recording output, diversity in performed compositions, and its reputation for touring performances in schools.[2][3]

Fennell left his conducting position in 1994[2] but remained as Music Director until 2000 and, as of 2014, is Conductor Laureate.[3][4] He was replaced by Douglas Bostock in 2000 and by by Paul Meyer in 2009.[4] As of 2014, Takeshi Ooiis the conductor.[4]

Operation

TKWO's headquarters are located on the Rissho Kosei-kai campus in central Tokyo, close to Fumon Hall, their primary recording venue.[2] TKWO's finances are supervised by the Rissho Kosei-kai, providing financial support during local and regional concerts.[3]

TKWO has hired women as members in the upper brass, woodwinds, and percussion sections, as well as promoting pieces by Japanese women composers, including Chieko Arai and Etsuko Hori.[1]

Discography and Style

TKWO has recorded more than 130 albums, commissioned numerous original works, sponsored band festivals and school clinics, and toured internationally with guest conductors such as Arnald Gabriel, Robert Jager, Craig Kirchhoff, and Alfred Reed.[1] American reviewer Ron McDonald called the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra recordings "one of the major releases of the decade" and "almost an encyclopedic survey of symphonic wind music."[2]

TKWO employs guest conductors from the United States and Europe. Most of TKWO's performed pieces are of Western origin, with Fennell's tenure marking a shift towards original works by American composers.[3]

Impact and Outreach

TKWO is well-known for its involvement in local schools. TKWO sponsors band workshops and gives outreach to schools, being one of the most important models for school bands within Kansai.[1] Fennell was a strong proponent of regular tours while he conducted TKWO.[3]

Ray Cramer, an American band conductor, stated that few wind ensembles existed when he first started conducting in Japan and that the popularity of TKWO started the trend of smaller instrumentation over the then-preferred large symphonic groups.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: A case study of - ProQuest". www.proquest.com. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Wind Bands and Cultural Identity in Japanese Schools. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-2178-4.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pham, Danh T. (2011). "The Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra: An Historical Perspective of the Organization". SHAREOK – via ShareOK.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Profile｜TOKYO KOSEI WIND ORCHESTRA". www.tkwo.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
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