FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe
The WMI FolkTales podcast is an award-winning production that features improvised re-imaginings of classic folk tales from around the world set to music. Hosted by acclaimed storyteller Bill Gordh, each episode invites a guest musician to improvise a culturally-appropriate score in dialogue with Bill’s inspired re-tellings of beloved stories from around the globe, followed by a brief conversation between Bill and the guest artist. Recommended for children of all ages.
WMI Folk Tales podcasts are supported by a grant from Con Edison and music lovers like you. We thank you!
podcast producer: Kate Winn
Podcast artwork courtesy of Cody Hudson - https://www.struggleinc.com
WMI Folk Tales podcasts are supported by a grant from Con Edison and music lovers like you. We thank you!
podcast producer: Kate Winn
Podcast artwork courtesy of Cody Hudson - https://www.struggleinc.com
Podcasting since 2022 • 12 episodes
FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe
Latest Episodes
India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
In a tiny village, sisters Gitika and Lalitika are on a mission to save their struggling mom by selling blossoms from Gitika, who can magically transform into a flowering tree and back to herself again - but only with very careful preparations....
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36:53
West Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill Gordh
For this FolkTale episode, Bill plays banjo and is joined by Malian kora master, singer, and fellow storyteller Yacouba Sissoko. Yacouba was born to a well-known Djeli family in Kita, Mali. For centuries, Djelis have been the musical storytelle...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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31:28
Ukraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill Gordh
Grammy Award-winning fiddler and vocalist Lisa Gutkin (The Klezmatics) and Bill Gordh tell the Jewish-Ukrainian tale A Garment for the Moon. The moon loves being up in the night sky but sometimes she gets cold. The tailors of the town ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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28:49
Persia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill Gordh
Mehrnam Rastegari and storyteller Bill Gordh improvise this Persian folk tale which tells the story of a young woman named Parinaz who escapes being married off to a rich man she does not love by hiding in a golden lamp stand, where she is disc...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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29:04
China - The Dragon's Eye with Zhou Yi and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and pipa master Zhou Yi improvise the Chinese folktale The Dragon's Eye which tells the story of a tinker who meets and befriends an orphaned dragon whom he raises in his home. Zhou Yi is a pipa (a four-string Ch...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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31:19
