India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh

Japan - The Dancing Tea Kettle with Kaoru Watanabe and Bill Gordh

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1939998/open_sms] The 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 traveling and performing, Haruki returns the kettle to the old man, sharing the joy and a hidden treasure of gold. WMI Plus At Home with Kaoru Watanabe [https://youtu.be/dsELaQhXFDM?si=bTv_3OFvikZc4XmE] Sound courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound Support the show [https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/store/donations] Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00127YQAJfP6X8pL3L9xYg1dtqRMQu4O8jisXPE8SjZLl-5484y3CotVX10tiZpjbf7VM4wyU97iNb5LxRIlR-vRbdS_cP9uFzr4GqZI0Z4FoYrd4aw-lf1vQEO8HdWSgjSBL3a_E-tMiE9BbbgWJWLuVfqJizGehz0iG6Sh4pHuwU%3D]

India - A Flowering Tree with Saraswathi Ranganathan and Bill Gordh

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1939998/open_sms] 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 [https://saraswathiveena.com/] Sound editing courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound Support the show [https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/store/donations] Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00127YQAJfP6X8pL3L9xYg1dtqRMQu4O8jisXPE8SjZLl-5484y3CotVX10tiZpjbf7VM4wyU97iNb5LxRIlR-vRbdS_cP9uFzr4GqZI0Z4FoYrd4aw-lf1vQEO8HdWSgjSBL3a_E-tMiE9BbbgWJWLuVfqJizGehz0iG6Sh4pHuwU%3D]

West Africa - Why Sun and Moon Are Up in the Sky with Yacouba Sissoko and Bill Gordh

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1939998/open_sms] 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 [https://yacousiskora.com/] Sound courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound Support the show [https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/store/donations] Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00127YQAJfP6X8pL3L9xYg1dtqRMQu4O8jisXPE8SjZLl-5484y3CotVX10tiZpjbf7VM4wyU97iNb5LxRIlR-vRbdS_cP9uFzr4GqZI0Z4FoYrd4aw-lf1vQEO8HdWSgjSBL3a_E-tMiE9BbbgWJWLuVfqJizGehz0iG6Sh4pHuwU%3D]

Ukraine - A Garment for the Moon with Lisa Gutkin and Bill Gordh

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1939998/open_sms] 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 [https://www.klezmatics.com/] Editing courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound Support the show [https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/store/donations] Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00127YQAJfP6X8pL3L9xYg1dtqRMQu4O8jisXPE8SjZLl-5484y3CotVX10tiZpjbf7VM4wyU97iNb5LxRIlR-vRbdS_cP9uFzr4GqZI0Z4FoYrd4aw-lf1vQEO8HdWSgjSBL3a_E-tMiE9BbbgWJWLuVfqJizGehz0iG6Sh4pHuwU%3D]

Persia - Parinaz and the Golden Lamp with Mehrnam Rastegari and Bill Gordh

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1939998/open_sms] 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 [https://mehrnamrastegari.com/] Recording courtesy of Cliff Hahn Sound Support the show [https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/store/donations] Keep in touch with us! Join our newsletter [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=00127YQAJfP6X8pL3L9xYg1dtqRMQu4O8jisXPE8SjZLl-5484y3CotVX10tiZpjbf7VM4wyU97iNb5LxRIlR-vRbdS_cP9uFzr4GqZI0Z4FoYrd4aw-lf1vQEO8HdWSgjSBL3a_E-tMiE9BbbgWJWLuVfqJizGehz0iG6Sh4pHuwU%3D]