Presto! A new Just One Story… episode with Diane Wolkstein and Jeff Greene (on the nyckelharpa) for your entertainment.

Behold “The Flax”! (also accessible via YouTube).

©2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

Before there was the Kentucky Derby, before the Belmont or Preakness Stakes, or Off–Track Betting, there were…

Horse. And Toad.

Because the exacta is nothing compared to the Princess’ hand in marriage, right?

“CRIC?!”

See you in Central Park tomorrow, 2nd June.

“Horse and Toad” is from the book The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (Random House–Schocken Books, New York, 1978, reprinted 1997).
©1978, 1997 Diane Wolkstein. Used with permission.
Video ©2010–2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

(Source: vimeo.com)

C’mon… you know you wanna dance.

Come sway to the beat of drummer Oneza LaFontant as Diane Wolkstein brings you the bittersweet romance of “Owl.”

“Cric?”

“Owl” is from the book The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (Random House–Schocken Books, New York, 1978, reprinted 1997).
©1978, 1997 Diane Wolkstein. Used with permission.
Video ©2010–2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

(Source: vimeo.com)

The second of four Haitian stories told by Diane Wolkstein in Central Park (see the previous post).

In a nutshell: If you rush into marriage, could this happen to you?

“Two Donkeys” is from the book The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (Random House–Schocken Books, New York, 1978, reprinted 1997).
©1978, 1997 Diane Wolkstein. Used with permission.
Video ©2010–2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

Finally, after too long a pause, the Just One Story… video upgrading continues.

Here’s Diane Wolkstein, joined by drummer Oneza LaFontant, with her signature telling of the Haitian tale about “The Magic Orange Tree” (from the classic book of the same title).

This is the first episode of the show to be produced in New York’s Central Park, and the first of four stories recorded on June 5, 2010.

Make sure to learn the song that goes with the story, so that you’re in the proper mood. 

“Cric?”

“The Magic Orange Tree” is from the book The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (Random House–Schocken Books, New York, 1978, reprinted 1997).
©1978, 1997 Diane Wolkstein. Used with permission.
Video ©2010–2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

The last of the upscaled Just One Story… episodes is all yours now to enjoy.

Diane Wolkstein is seen here with a poignant story from her collection The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (1978). The most amazing thing about this story is the fourth — and intentionally forgotten — daughter’s capacity to forgive her mother for the injustice done to her as a child.

This performance was recorded at the Mother’s Day Benefit for Haiti (Scandinavia House, New York City, Sunday 9 May 2010) using an older Samsung miniDV videotape camcorder. It’s the last of the old standard definition episodes we did before we finally moved up to a 720p HD camera.

Look for more Haitian goodness in April. But for now… “Cric?”

“One, My Darling, Come to Mama” from The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales (Random House–Schocken Books, New York, 1978, reprinted 1997).
©1978, 1997 Diane Wolkstein. Used with permission.
Video ©2010–2012 Diane Wolkstein / Cloudstone /Philip David Morgan / Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

Here’s another Just One Story… oldie but goodie, newly remastered for 720p HD. Everybody comfy?

In May of 2010, I had the honor of recording Dianne R. Carr telling her original children’s tale “Dragon Days and Rabbit Ways” (1973), which she describes as “a story about a dragon who finds what no flaming fury has ever revealed — his heart and his imagination.” (This episode was recorded al fresco at the Dairy inside New York City’s Central Park, so please forgive the banging of tables, dishes, and the like.) No dragons, rabbits, or humans were harmed during the taping.

“Dragon Days and Rabbit Ways” ©1990 Dianne R. Carr.
Video ©2010-2012 Dianne R. Carr / Philip David Morgan — Rosegarden Media & Entertainment. 
 

Just One Story… is finally relaunched.

Here, then, is Episode 1, remastered to 720p HD, with Diane Wolkstein recorded in live performance at New York’s Orchard House Café, telling a Taoist tale from Lieh Tzu (The Huainanzi) that begins with the simple act of a farmer’s horse riding off. All the farmer can wonder aloud is “Who knows what the future will bring?”

Stay tuned, everyone. We’re just getting warmed up. And there are more stories to come.

©2009–2012 Diane Wolkstein, et.al./Philip David Morgan — Rosegarden Media and Entertainment.

Rosegarden in December