The Toronto Music Garden Inspired by Bach The design The donors General Information Event Calendar Photo GalleryYou will require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the documents below . Inspired by BachInspired 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 broadcast in 1997 and 1998 . It has also been made available for home video . 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 Incorporated approached the city of Boston , Massachusetts to create an actual garden based on The Music Garden . When the Boston site fell through , Toronto Parks and Recreation enthusiastically embraced the project . Download and listen to a short clip ( 515 Kb ) from " Inspired by Bach " provided courtesy of Sony Classical Music . For more information about Yo - Yo Ma , or to listen to clips from his other recordings , visit Sony ' s Web site . The designJulie Messervy designed the waterfront Music Garden in collaboration with landscape architects from the city ' s Parks and Recreation department . 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 . Two Canadian artists created special features for the Music Garden . Tom Tollefson , architectural blacksmith , fabricated the Music Pavilion , and Anne Roberts , Feir Mill Design Inc . , designed the Maypole . Click around the image for the different sections of the gardenLarge view of the Music GardenBach ' s Suite No . 1 for Unaccompanied CelloPreludeAn undulating river scape with curves and 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 overtopped by an alley of native Hackberry trees ( Celtis occidentalis ) , whose straight trunks and regular spacing suggest measures of music . AllemandeA forest grove of wandering trailsThe 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 harbour through a circle of Dawn Redwood trees . CouranteA 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 - spiralling swirl through a lush field of grasses and brightly - coloured perennials that attract birds and butterflies . At the top , a Maypole spins in the wind . SarabandeA 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 . MenuettA 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 . GigueGiant grass steps that dance you down to the outside worldThe 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 harbour . The steps form a curved amphitheatre 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 harbour . The donorsJames Douglas Fleck is leading the private side of a public / private collaboration with the City of Toronto to create and build the Toronto Music Garden . Under the leadership of Mr . Fleck , over one million dollars has been raised from private donors . The donors are David and Vivian Campbell , George and Kathy Dembroski , James and Margaret Fleck , David and Catheriné Graham , Michael and Sonja Koerner , Wilmot and Judy Matthews , Jim and Sandra Pitblado and Sandra Simpson . The Weston Foundation has also contributed to the project . General InfoThe Toronto Music Garden is located on the waterfront at 475 Queen ' s Quay West between Bathurst Street & Spadina Avenue . ( see Toronto maps ) The Toronto Music Garden is easy to reach by public transit . Take the Spadina 510 streetcar south from the Spadina subway station or the LRT Harbourfront Line going west from Union Station . Call the Toronto Transit Commission at 416 - 393 - 4636 for service information . For information on the Toronto Music Garden and its programs , or to receive information on upcoming events , call the Harbourfront Centre Info Line at 416 - 973 - 4000 . The Toronto Music Garden is open year - round and there is no admission fee . The Toronto Music Garden is wheelchair - accessible . No . 1 IN G Major , BWV 1007