Grimm Reading

Welcome to Extra Grimm, where we delve a little deeper into the world of the Brothers Grimm for the curious.

In this episode, we talk to Brothers Grimm expert Jack Zipes. The conversation centers around a particular folk tale type, that of ATU 325 “The Magician And His Apprentice”.

The interview starts with Jack recalling how his journey into this tale type all started with wondering why the Harry Potter series has achieved such phenomenal success. Eventually, he concluded that it’s because it’s really a gigantic version of “The Magician And His Apprentice.” From this bombshell opening, we discuss Richard Dawkins concept of memes as well as why fairy tales are so important, Hegel's theory of dialectics, and how ATU 325 is perhaps one of the most important tales in the history of oral storytelling.

Fortunately, we have already done one of the Grimm’s two stories of this type - you can hear our episode The Thief And His Master here. (highly recommended background homework for this episode!)

You can pick up a copy of Jack’s 2017 book “The Sorcerer's Apprentice: An Anthology of Magical Tales” which examines this type of folktale, charting is journey from antiquity to the modern day.

This episode contains spoilers for as yet unread stories and also contains themes that may not be suitable for all listeners.

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While out on his daily rounds, a poor fisherman nets an enchanted fish prince. When his wife hears how he let the fish go, she demands he return and ask the fish to give them a cottage. Things then escalate fast, as the fisherman's wife gets a taste for the property market and chases a career in politics. 

Will they be content with their lot, or will greed see them fall to their ruin? Find out all this and more in the absolutely massive tale, The Fisherman and His Wife.

After the story we discuss it's meaning and form, including the idea of an anti-fairy and the shadow of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Grimms then lead us back to our old friend Shakespeare, and finally we learn about the legend of Pope Joan thanks to our pod-friends Pontifacts.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Ravel's Miroirs - III. Une barque sur l'ocean performed by Robert Ewen Birchall // Byrd's Mass for Four Voices - I. Kyrie Eleison performed by the Ensemble Morales // Má vlast - Vltava performed by the Musopen Symphony

As a penniless woodcutter’s health fades, he leaves his three sons the only things he has in the world - a cat and scythe and a cock. To find fortune, he instructs them to seek out a country in which these things are unknown. One by one the sons head out into the wide world with their gifts. But, when the final son finds himself on an island plagued by mice and rats, the inhabitants get more than they bargained for.

Will they make their fortune? And can you use a cannon for everything? Find out all this and more in The Three Sons of Fortune. 

After the story, the Grimm’s lead us down the rabbit hole where we meet the famous English folk hero Dick Whittington and delve into the history of Dick Whittington and his cat. Finally, deep in the rabbit hole, we find ourselves exploring the history of pantomime and its roots in the ancient world. Hey, someone had to do it.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 8 in G major - 1. Allegro assai, performed by Paul Rosenthal & Edward Auer // Max Lewandowsky's String Sextet, Op. 5.

When the family cook plots to kill a foundling boy, his adoptive sister comes to the rescue and the two take flight, shapeshifting their way out of danger. The cook deploys her henchmen to hunt them down but when they fail, she waddles after them herself for a final showdown. Who will emerge victorious? Find out in this week’s tale, Fundevogel (aka Fledgling)!

After the story, we talk similarities to other tales, shapeshifting Jesus news, and then squeeze in an extra Russian fairy tale where at long last we have the pleasure of welcoming Baba Yaga to Grimm Castle.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Bach's English Suite no. 3, BWV 808 performed by Radek Materka // Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no. 3, Op. 30 - III. Finale: Alla breve performed by Sinfonia of Leeds

Talking dead fingers, aggressive domestic appliances, and a devil under a duvet - prepare yourself for the madness that is the Brothers Grimm's "The Godfather".

In this utterly bizarre story we have essentially a mashup of two Grimm stories we've heard before, namely - Godfather Death and The Strange Feast. Is this hybrid version better than the originals or a step too far?

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Hear Matt's recital of The Godfather Theme.

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Two versions of Tchaikovsky's Sentimental waltz no. 6 from Op. 51: firstly, a piano and cello arr. with Elizaveta Sushchenko on cello; secondly, a piano version performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni // Chopin's Polonaise No. 6 in A flat major, Op. 53 

Finding himself alone in a forest, a musician decides to play his fiddle and entice a human friend. Before long, several animals approach and ask for music lessons. On gaining their trust, the musician cruelly entraps them and wanders on. Eventually the animals escape and together plot revenge.

Will they have their justice? And where exactly does this musician get off? Find out in this week’s episode, The Wonderful Musician (aka The Strange Musician).

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 61 - III. Rondo: Allegro performed by the US Marine Chamber Orchestra

In Clever Gretel, a free-wheeling cook throws a party for herself at her master's expense. After she’s eaten all his chicken and drunk all his wine, Gretel’s master returns home ready for dinner… But our clever heroine plays those above her like a fiddle, and easily gets herself out of trouble.

Join us as we try to dissect the mayhem and enjoy a story from The One Thousand and One Nights (aka The Arabian Nights).

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Chopin's Etude Op. 25 no. 8 in D flat major - 'Sixths' // Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 in C Minor 'Pathétique' // Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade: The Young Prince and the Princess

When the King decides to celebrate the birth of his daughter by sentencing his twelve sons to death, the boys flee to live a feral life in the woods where they vow to kill any maiden they meet. 

A decade later, the Princess vows the rescue her brothers and she heads out into the forest. But things take a turn for the worse when she accidentally turns them all into birds and a foreign king carries her off to another land... 

Will she ever rescue her brothers? Why does she have a golden star on her forehead? And can snakes survive in boiling oil? We answer all these questions and more in this week's episode: The Twelve Brothers.

This episode is Certified Grimm and may not be suitable for all listeners.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Brahms' Serenade No.1 in D major Op.11 - VI. Rondo - Allegro and String Quartet No.1 in C minor Op.51, No.1 - IV. Allegro from the European Archive

Happy Grimm new year! We’re kicking things off with a surprise story – the one and only Puss in Boots. 

When the family cat suddenly demands a pair of boots, a poor young miller spends his last few coins granting the cat's wish. A idiotic whim or the investment of a lifetime? Join us on the classic adventure of Puss in Boots, where we see our furry hero outsmarting, outwitting and outdressing everyone who comes in his path!

We then hear about the many guises of puss in boots from the global oral folk tradition, before embarking on a trip through the canals of time as we see 'Her Pussyship' develop as a literary character, from late-medieval Venice to Antonio Banderas.

Finally, we reveal the results of our last story poll and launch the first poll of 2021.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Liszt's 2 Waltzes S.126b 1 and 2  performed by Mauro Tortorelli // Leroy Anderson's The Waltzing Cat performed by Markus Staab

Join us for the third annual Grimm Reading Christmas Party! We've got gifts, port, cracker jokes and festive fare for all, before Adam reads us the truly epic Irish fairy tale 'The Christmas Cuckoo'. And finally, we reveal the winner of our competition and some plans for next year.

Thank you so much to everyone for listening, messaging, and supporting us in various ways - especially our wonderful patrons. And thanks to Pook Press for collaborating with us for the 2020 competition.

You can join us for more Christmas fun in the fable stable podcast, otherwise stay safe and we'll see you in the new year. Keep it Grimm!

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko (+ sleigh bells)

Other Music: Tchaikovsky's "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker Suite Performed by Gabriel Antonio Hernandez Romero on Piano // Tchaikovsky's "The Magical Castle in the Kingdom of Sweets" and "The Christmas Tree" from The Nutcracker Suite - from the music.org European Archive