FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe – Details, episodes & analysis
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FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe
World Music Institute
Frequency: 1 episode/98d. Total Eps: 13
The WMI FolkTales podcast is an original award-winning production that features improvised re-imaginings of classic folk tales from around the world, hosted by acclaimed storyteller Bill Gordh. Each episode features a guest artist who joins Bill for a musical re-telling of a beloved story from their culture. Recommended for children of all ages.
WMI Folk Tales podcasts are supported by music lovers like you. We thank you!
Podcast producer: Kate Winn
Audio courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
Podcast artwork courtesy of Cody Hudson - https://www.struggleinc.com
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Apple Podcasts
🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
05/05/2025#82🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
04/05/2025#53🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
30/04/2025#79🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
29/04/2025#56🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
01/04/2025#88🇬🇧 Great Britain - storiesForKids
31/03/2025#66
Spotify
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See allScore global : 62%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 11
lundi 11 novembre 2024 • Duration 36:53
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. The blooms catch the eye of Neela, the king’s daughter, who wants to keep them all for herself, but Neela's brother, the prince, uncovers Gitika's secret and falls in love with her. Unfortunately, Neela's flower obsession leads to some serious drama when she and her friends gather them carelessly, disregarding Gitika's specific instructions, and leaving Gitaka in flux. How will she transform into herself again?
More about Saraswathi Ranganathan
Sound editing courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
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West Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 11
mercredi 17 avril 2024 • Duration 31:28
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 storytellers and keepers of the history and fables of their culture. The kora, a 21-stringed plucked instrument with a gourd resonator, is the traditional instrument accompanying their songs.
Long ago when Sun and Moon lived on the earth, they played with their friend Water every day. When they invite Water to their house, Water sadly tells them it is impossible to visit because their home is too small. So Sun and Moon plan a surprise for Water that ends up surprising them!
More about Yacouba Sissoko
Sound courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
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Ireland - Red Rory and the Fairies with Seamus Egan and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 2
mercredi 16 mars 2022 • Duration 25:44
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 too far, the fairies strike back with their playful wrath, throwing a wrench in his plans to head home for dinner with a trail of tricks and hurdles.
More about Seamus Egan
Listen to WMI Plus At Home with Seamus Egan and Stephen Winick
Sound editing courtesy of David Klym
WMI FolkTales podcasts are supported by a grant from Con Edison and world music lovers like you. We thank you!
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India - Grandmother Rabbit and the Elephant King with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 1
lundi 14 février 2022 • Duration 28:39
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 by elephants. When the elephant's watering hole dries up, they barge into the bunny's pond, causing chaos. But wise Grandmother Rabbit has a plan to reclaim their turf.
More about Saraswathi Ranganathan
WMI FolkTales podcasts are supported by a grant from Con Edison and world music lovers like you. We thank you!
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Ukraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 10
mardi 5 décembre 2023 • Duration 28:49
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 try to weave a garment to keep her warm but she keeps changing shape! One tailor remembers a tale from his childhood about a place where they weave with light. Could that be the answer? And if so, how will he find it?
More about Lisa Gutkin and The Klezmatics
Editing courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
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Persia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 9
dimanche 22 octobre 2023 • Duration 29:04
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 discovered by a prince who falls in love with her voice. Mehrnam is an Iranian composer, vocalist, and kamancheh player now residing in New York City.
More about Merhnam Rastegari
Recording courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
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China - The Dragon's Eye with Zhou Yi and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 8
vendredi 4 août 2023 • Duration 31:19
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 Chinese lute) soloist, educator, and the Artistic Director of the Ba Ban Chinese Music Society of NY. She graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China.
Recording courtesy of George Wurzbach
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Morocco - The Sultan's Horse with Samir LanGus and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 7
dimanche 30 juillet 2023 • Duration 28:50
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 report of what they have seen and done. While the elder sons choose the fastest horses, the youngest son chooses his father's old horse, who leads him to a singing feather, and ultimately sends them on a journey to find the Sultan of the Spirits' daughter.
Samir sings and plays the gimbri - a three-string lute that is central to the gnawa spiritual tradition.
More about Samir LanGus
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Finland - The Enchanted Kantele with Kardemimmit and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 6
lundi 1 mai 2023 • Duration 26:04
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 desires Karina and plots to eliminate the hunter by challenging him to a series of seemingly impossible tasks. However, the King has underestimated Karina's power.
This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Scandinavia House in NYC.
More about Kardemimmit
Watch the video of the recording
Sound editing courtesy of David Klym
WMI Folktales are supported by a grant from Con Edison and world music lovers like you. We thank you!
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Tibet - The Gathering Tree with Techung and Bill Gordh
Season 1 · Episode 5
mercredi 18 janvier 2023 • Duration 35:52
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 animals at the Gathering Tree. As he shares his newfound knowledge with the village, they shower him with gratitude. But a sneaky fellow traveler who is jealous of Paulden’s good fortune tries to exploit the animals and locals, leading to a very different, not-so-pleasant ending.
More about Techung
Sound editing courtesy of David Klym
WMI Folktales are supported by a grant from Con Edison and world music lovers like you. We thank you!
Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter
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