J.S. Bach was prodigious as a composer and family man, producing thousands of musical masterpieces and over twenty children. Many of his children continued in the family profession as musicians, as had their father and grandfather. Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach are represented as two of the best of the later Bach generation. The great man himself, Johann Sebastian, is given the place of honor with a performance of his Goldberg Variations in an arrangement for string trio by Dmitri Sitkovetsky. Written for the insomniac Count Goldberg to entertain himself on sleepless nights, the Variations remain one of the supreme examples of the form.

Event description: An exhilarating jet boat ride down the Colorado River brings listeners to a pristine wilderness grotto carved from the surrounding red rocks, for an inspiring “once-in-a-lifetime” experience (Fodors). These MMF signature events weave a rich sonic tapestry of music with one of the most stunning natural environments imaginable, combining the beauty of music with the area’s scenic wonders.