What makes the Tokyo Sinfonia so special?
In order to complement the more than 1,600 student, amateur, and profes-sional orchestras making music in this nation, Maestro Rÿker perceived a valid role for a chamber orchestra which would be portable and cost effective, flexible and highly artistic.
He wanted to form a special orchestra which would be small in size, but rich in sound.
The question was how to reconcile the two contra-dictory concepts — small, and rich.
From group dynamics, we learn that the largest number in which each participant feels personally involved and essential is five.
Thus, the Tokyo Sinfonia is composed of 5 first violins and 5 second violins in the largest sections, and 4 violas, 3 violoncellos and 2 contrabasses for balance.
The rest is history.