Toronto’s Music Garden

A place for serenity and Introspection

The Music Garden sits on the Toronto Waterfront. It is really something to behold. “Magnificent” doesn’t do it justice. Plants of all types; flowering one, bushes, and trees, all merging perfectly over small, light, gently rolling hills and pathways into the inner harbor.

It is an enchanted, well organized place. Inspired by Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, with each dance movement within the suite corresponding to a different section of the garden, it has a small, elevated platform that stands atop a series of steps. These are often used by wedding parties, and their photographers to create memorable images.

During the summer, the city regularly presents music performances from around the world. This is in contrast to the louder electrified rock, Latin, and Jazz-Rock-fusion performances held just a few block East. There you can find the urban crowds, pushing strollers, with ice cream cones, and Starbuck mocha-lattes in hand. The Garden Plan

The garden website describes the sensibility of the design in relation to Bach in the following way:

“Gardens & Plant List — Bach’s Suite №1 for Unaccompanied Cello “Prelude — An undulating riverscape with curves & bends: The first moment of the suite imparts the feeling of a flowing river through which the visitor can stroll. Granite boulders from the southern edge of the Canadian Shield are placed to represent a stream bed with low-growing plants softening its banks. The whole is over-topped by an alley of native Hackberry trees, whose straight trunks and regular spacing suggest measures of music.”

This is directly from the public domain music garden website

· Allemande — A forest grove of wandering trails: The Allemande is an ancient German dance. Interpreted here as a Birch forest, the movement invites the visitor to swirl inward to various contemplative sitting areas, that move higher and higher up the hillside, culminating in a rocky vantage point that looks over the harbor through a circle of Dawn Redwood trees.

· Courante — A swirling path through a wildflower meadow: Originally, an Italian and French dance form, the Courante is an exuberant movement that is interpreted here as a huge, upward-spiraling swirl through a lush field of grasses and brightly colored perennials that attract birds and butterflies. At the top, a Maypole spins in the wind.

· Gigue — Giant grass steps that dance you down to the outside world: The Gigue, or “jog” is an English dance, whose jaunty, rollicking music is interpreted here as a series of giant grass steps that offer views onto the harbor. The steps form a curved amphitheater that focus on a stone stage set under a weeping willow tree; a place for informal performances. Shrubs and perennials act as large, enclosing arms, framing views out onto the harbor.”

· Menuett — A formal flower parterre: This French dance was contemporary to Bach’s time. Its formality and grace are reflected in the symmetry and geometry of this movement’s design. Hand-crafted with ornamental steel, a circular pavilion is designed to shelter small musical ensembles or dance groups.

· Sarabande — A Conifer grove in the shape of an arc: This movement is based on an ancient Spanish dance form. Its contemplative quality is interpreted here as an inward-arcing circle that is enclosed by tall needle-leaf evergreen trees. Envisioned as a poet’s corner, the garden’s centerpiece is a huge stone that acts as a stage for readings, and holds a small pool with water that reflects the sky.

The walk from my apartment to the garden is at most twenty-minute with a slow and leisurely walk, and we left with enough time arrive to the lawn where the concert was to take place, with five minutes to spare.

History of the Music Garden

Inspired by the pictorial element in Johann Sebastian Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, internationally renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma collaborated with a number of artists to produce Inspired by Bach — a six part film series. The series was produced by Rhombus Media Incorporated, and broadcasted in 1997, and 1998. For the first film in the series, The Music Garden, Mr. Ma worked with landscape designer Julie Moir Messervy to interpret in nature the music of Bach’s first suite. As a result of the film project, Yo-Yo Ma, Julie Messervy and Rhombus Media , approached the city of Boston, Massachusetts to create an actual garden based on The Music Garden. When the Boston site fell through, Toronto enthusiastically embraced the project. Many brilliant designers got involved with the Canadian waterfront Music Garden project in collaboration with landscape architects from the Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department.

The Garden Design

The garden design interprets in nature Bach’s First Suite for Unaccompanied Cello, with each dance movement within the suite corresponding to a different section in the garden. Other artists created special features for the Music Garden and many generous donors led the private side of a public/private collaboration with the City of Toronto to create the Music Garden.

Off to the Concert

Every Sunday my wife, Lilia and I walk to the concert, whatever it may be. It might be anything on the softer side, light Jazz, folk, chamber, or a mix. When we arrive to the performance, there is always a sophisticated, polite, well-mannered, “soft” crowd. It is always, a lively, fulfilling, and meaningful experience.

Here is a story by Avi Kotzer. I chose Avi’s piece for 2 reasons. A.18th century music related to the Music Garden. B. I usually follow new writers but link to established writers such as Avi. It is a pay it forward approach

About the Author: Lewis Harrison is a public speaker, an executive coach and a professional futurist (forecaster).