))
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 ...
…
continue reading
1
India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
36:53
36:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
36:53
Send us a text 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 her…
…
continue reading
1
West Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill Gordh
31:28
31:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:28
Send us a text 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 …
…
continue reading
1
Ukraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill Gordh
28:49
28:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:49
Send us a text 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 fr…
…
continue reading
1
Persia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill Gordh
29:04
29:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:04
Send us a text 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, vocali…
…
continue reading
1
China - The Dragon's Eye with Zhou Yi and Bill Gordh
31:19
31:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:19
Send us a text 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. …
…
continue reading
1
Morocco - The Sultan's Horse with Samir LanGus and Bill Gordh
28:50
28:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:50
Send us a text 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 …
…
continue reading
1
Finland - The Enchanted Kantele with Kardemimmit and Bill Gordh
26:04
26:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:04
Send us a text 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 t…
…
continue reading
1
Tibet - The Gathering Tree with Techung and Bill Gordh
35:52
35:52
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:52
Send us a text 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 g…
…
continue reading
1
South America - The Two Girls with Harpist Edmar Castaneda and Bill Gordh
28:19
28:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:19
Send us a text 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 elderly woman in their village. The other girl who is spoiled and cruel, tries to take advantage …
…
continue reading
1
Brazil - Night Comes to the Rainforest with Cyro Baptista and Bill Gordh
25:18
25:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:18
Send us a text 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 has never experienced. They decide to send three friends on a mission to fetch darkness from the…
…
continue reading
1
Ireland - Red Rory and the Fairies with Seamus Egan and Bill Gordh
25:44
25:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:44
Send us a text 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 fo…
…
continue reading
1
India - Grandmother Rabbit and the Elephant King with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh
28:39
28:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:39
Send us a text 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, causin…
…
continue reading
