FolkTales set to Music from Around the Globe 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 Sissoko

Editing 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.

Recording courtesy of George Wurzbach
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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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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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