FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe: Recent Episodes
World Music Institute
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 SissokoEditing courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound
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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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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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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.
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Storyteller Bill Gordh and gnawa artist Samir LanGus improvise the Moroccan tale of The Sultan's Horse, followed by a brief conversation between the two. 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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Storyteller Bill Gordh and Finnish ensemble Kardemimmit improvise the folktale "The Enchanted Kantele", followed by a conversation with the musicians. The kantele is the Finnish national instrument. This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Scandinavia House in Manhattan.
More about KardemimmitWatch the video of the recording
(Sound editing by 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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Storyteller Bill Gordh and Tibetan artist Techung improvise the folktale "The Gathering Tree", followed by a conversation with Techung.
More about Techung
(Sound editing by 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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Storyteller Bill Gordh and Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda improvise the South American folk tale "The Two Girls".
More about Edmar Castaneda