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Toronto
Music Garden
About
the Gardens
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Music Garden Inspired by
Bach
Inspired by the pictorial element
in Johann Sebastian Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello.
The Music Garden Design
Julie Mes servy designed the
Toronto waterfront Music Garden with help from landscape architects from the
City of Toronto Parks and
Recreation department.
The garden design interprets, with
a little help from nature, Bach's 1st
Suite for Unaccompanied Cello. Each dance movement within the suite
corresponding to a different section in the Toronto Muisc garden.
Bach's Suite No. 1 - for
Unaccompanied Cello
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Prelude |
An Undulating
River Scape 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 overtopped by an
alley of the native Hackberry trees, whose straight
trunks and regular spacing suggest measures of music.
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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.
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Courante |
A Swirling
Path Through A Wildflower Meadow
Originally an Italian & 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-coloured perennials
that attract birds & butterflies. At the top, a Maypole spins in the
wind.
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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, & holds a
small pool with water that reflects the sky.
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Menuett
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A Formal
Flower Parterre
This French dance was contemporary to Bach's time. Its formality &
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.
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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 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.
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For more information on the
Toronto Music Garden, visit the
Toronto Parks Website
For information on holding an event or wedding ceremony at the park
Click Here
Park photo's & description are courtesy of Toronto Parks
/ Gera
Dilton
and are provided as a courtesy to our customers.
Toronto Ireland Park
/ Toronto Little Norway Park
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