Shows
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeJapan - The Dancing Tea Kettle with Kaoru Watanabe and Bill GordhSend us a textThe story follows an old man living in the mountains who discovers his leaking tea kettle has magical properties: When he tries to boil water, the kettle transforms into a tanuki (raccoon dog) who makes a mess of the old man’s house! Once the tanuki returns to being a kettle, the old man boxes it up and gifts it to his handyman friend, Haruki, who discovers that it can dance! Haruki and the dancing kettle begin performing together, gaining fame and fortune all across Japan. Eventually, realizing his friend had grown tired of...2025-05-0133 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeIndia - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill GordhSend us a textIn 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 Gi...2024-11-1136 min
Talkshow i P1Metoo för män, succé för svenska NBA-spelaren och går känslor före sakfrågor i USA-valet?Har Demokraterna valt fel strategi i USA-valet? Varför är det svårare för män att prata om övergrepp? Och kan svenska NBA-stjärnan Pelle Larsson motstå att slösa sina miljoner? Lyssna på alla avsnitt i Sveriges Radio Play. I Talkshow idag handlar det om att det tycks gå bättre för Trump när valet närmar sig. Detta enligt PR-strategen David Orlic, som menar att det har blivit vibbarnas val snarare än sakfrågornas. Och frågan är då om Demokraterna har valt fel strategi?Katherine och Jonas får också besö...2024-10-2455 min
Fabric of FolkloreEp 56: The Magic of Folktales: Bill Gordh's Journey Through Storytelling and MusicWhat impact can folktales have on children? In episode 56, Bill Gordh, an award-winning banjo player and storyteller, shares his journey from skepticism about theater's importance to recognizing its profound impact through his work with children and folktales. This episode delves into his multicultural folktale books and the transformative power of live storytelling for children. We also discuss his podcast with the World Music Institute, where he features world-renowned musicians and their unique instruments, integrating them seamlessly into folktales. Don't miss this captivating episode that highlights the power of storytelling to bridge cultures, inspire learning, and promote kindness.Bill...2024-07-081h 12
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeWest Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill GordhSend us a textFor 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, W...2024-04-1731 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeUkraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill GordhSend us a textGrammy 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 Klezmatics2023-12-0528 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobePersia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill GordhSend us a textMehrnam 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 RastegariRecording courtesy of Cliff Hahn SoundSupport the showKeep in...2023-10-2229 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeChina - The Dragon's Eye with Zhou Yi and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 WurzbachSupport the showKeep in touch with us! Join our newsletter2023-08-0431 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeMorocco - The Sultan's Horse with Samir LanGus and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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...2023-07-3028 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeFinland - The Enchanted Kantele with Kardemimmit and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 KardemimmitWatch the video of th...2023-05-0126 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeTibet - The Gathering Tree with Techung and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 TechungSound editing courtesy of Davi...2023-01-1835 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeSouth America - The Two Girls with Harpist Edmar Castaneda and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 of the same woman... but is in for a rude awakening.More about Edmar CastanedaWMI Folktales are supported by a grant from Con Edison and world music lovers like...2022-06-0228 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeBrazil - Night Comes to the Rainforest with Cyro Baptista and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 Snake King. He hands them a nut containing night, with strict instructions not to open it until they return to his daughter, but temptation gets the better of them.More about Cyro Baptista2022-03-2125 min
FolkTales set to Music from Around the GlobeIreland - Red Rory and the Fairies with Seamus Egan and Bill GordhSend us a textStoryteller 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 EganListen to WMI Plus At Home with Seamus Egan and Stephen WinickSound editing courtesy of...2022-03-1625 min