Yo-Yo Ma: Inspired by Bach

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma stars in a series of six short films based on Johann Sebastian Bach's Suites for Unaccompanied Cello.

1. E1. Suite #1 - The Music Garden

   Apr 1, 1998

   "The Music Garden," a documentary about designing a waterfront garden in Toronto. With landscape artist Julie Moir Messervy and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Directed by Kevin McMahon.

2. E2. Suite #2 - The Sound of the Carceri

   "The Sound of the Carceri," a film melding Bach's cello music, played by Yo-Yo Ma, with computer-generated images of Renaissance architect Giovanni Piranesi's etchings. Directed by Francois Girard.

3. E3. Suite #3- Falling Down Stairs

   Yo-Yo Ma collaborates with choreographer Mark Morris on a new dance, entitled "Falling Down Stairs," performed by the Mark Morris Dance Group. Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete.

4. E4. Suite #4- Sarabande

   Filmmaker Atom Egoyan collaborates with cellist Yo-Yo Ma on a film titled “Sarabande,” about the effects of music on the lives of five characters. Ma plays himself. With Lori Singer, Don McKellar, Jan Rubes and Arsinee Khanjian.

5. E5. Suite #5- Struggle for Hope

   Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and artist Tamasaburo Bando create a Kabuki dance entitled "Struggle for Hope." Performed by Bando and directed by Niv Fichman.

6. E6. Suite #6- Six Gestures

   Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean skate "Six Gestures," recalling Bach's life during 1717-23, when he wrote the suites for unaccompanied cello. With Tom McCamus as Bach. Directed by Patricia Rozema.