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
Episodes
12 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
Morocco - The Sultan's Horse with Samir LanGus and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and gnawa artist Samir LanGus improvise the Moroccan tale of The Sultan's Horse, in which the Sultan must choose one of his three sons to be his successor, and tasks them with traveling and returning with a repor...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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28:50
Finland - The Enchanted Kantele with Kardemimmit and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Finnish ensemble Kardemimmit improvise the folktale "The Enchanted Kantele". In this magical story, a hunter saves a squirrel who transforms into a beautiful woman named Karina. They marry, but the King de...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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26:04
Tibet - The Gathering Tree with Techung and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Tibetan artist Techung improvise the folktale "The Gathering Tree", which delves into the adventures of Paulden, a lone traveler who uncovers life-saving tips by paying heed to conversations among the anim...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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35:52
South America - The Two Girls with Harpist Edmar Castaneda and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda improvise the South American folktale "The Two Girls" - a cautionary tale of two girls: one from a humble home, whose compassion earns her a well-deserved reward for helping an elderl...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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28:19
Brazil - Night Comes to the Rainforest with Cyro Baptista and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and percussionist Cyro Baptista improvise the Brazilian folktale "Night Comes to the Rainforest". The story follows a farmer's wife, the daughter of the mighty Snake King, who tells her husband about night, which he...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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25:18
Ireland - Red Rory and the Fairies with Seamus Egan and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan improvise the Irish folktale "Red Rory and the Fairies". Red Rory likes showing off and telling stories - especially about the fairies. When he takes his fibbing a step to...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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25:44
India - Grandmother Rabbit and the Elephant King with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
Storyteller Bill Gordh and veena player Saraswathi Ranganathan improvise the Indian folktale "Grandmother Rabbit and The Elephant King", an enchanting story that dives into the drama between two ponds, one ruled by rabbits and the other b...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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28:39
