Grimm Reading

After escaping her murderous witchy step-mother, a girl and her sweetheart take flight on a magical journey of heartbreak and betrayal.

In this week’s epic, lovelorn story, meet a lonely Shepard, a house-keeping flower, talking drops of blood, a complicated couple, and some pushy village girls.

After the tale, we discuss the thorny issue of sexism in fairy tales, consider the peculiar Hansel and Gretel connection, and recount the incredible french story Hop o’ My Thumb. 

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

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

The cock and hen continue their mischievous adventure, this time with some new friends and a souped-up carriage. In part two of The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet, the motley crew pay a visit to the unfortunate Mr. Korbes where things escalate quickly. 

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Chopin’s Concerto #2 in F Minor 1st and 2nd Movements, performed by the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra

A poor cobbler, an illiterate sweeper and a distraught mother all have run ins with some cheeky elves – it’s finally time for the festive tale 'The Elves and the Shoemaker'!

After the story, we discuss the history of elves from the Anglo-Saxons to Queen Elizabeth, Iceland and Victorian Christmas, as well as belief in changelings and the surprisingly early theory of relativity.

Finally, we choose the next batch of stories we’ll be reading and reveal the results of our first Patreon listener story poll!

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46 III. Anitra's Dance, recorded at Omega Studios, Edward S. Petersen conducting // Liszt's Liebesträume

A passing queen hears a daughter being beaten, she intervenes and whisks her off to the royal palace. Setting her a spinning challenge, the girl loses all hope before three mysterious women come to her aid...

In the three spinners, a lazy girl has the chance to escape poverty, will she find her way out of a life of spinning?

After the story, we discuss the importance of spinning through history and the surprising incarnations of the three spinners through time.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Handel's Messiah, 1st Movement performed by the MIT Concert Choir, Cutter // Haydn's Symphony No. 101 in D major (Hoboken 1/101) - 2nd movement: "The Clock" performed by Amigos do JPC with Pedro Carlos Silva, violin

After a vicious duck attack, a cock and a hen find shelter at an inn. But the host is unsure about this unscrupulous bunch, and after first refusing them entry, he eventually lets them in. Will they prove his prejudices wrong?

Find out why you should always judge a book by its cover, and why you should never put an egg shell near a fire, in this week’s story: The Pack of Ragamuffins.

The sound quality isn't great during the story but rest assured, it gets better after the first few minutes. It won't happen again, promise!

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Chopin's Concerto 2 in F Minor 3rd Movement performed by the Seattle Philharmonic // Chopin's Mazurka D Major Op.33 no. 2 performed by Lubka Kolessa

With the help of a sticky golden goose, Dummling, the youngest of three brothers, inadvertently woos an overly serious princess and proves he’s not so dumb after all.

This week, discover how kindness always pays, why you should never cross small magical grey men, and what Venetian skater shoes have to do with German folklore.

We’re back from our summer break with a new series and a Patreon to go with it! Find out more info on how you can support the podcast and what goodies you can claim here: https://www.patreon.com/grimmreading

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Beethoven's Sonata No. 11 in B Flat Major Op. 22 performed by Daniel Veesey / Chopin's Opus 10 Twelve Grand Etudes D flat major performed by Martha Goldstein

For our first series finale we finish off with Rapunzel, the famous story of a well coiffured heroine trapped in a tower.

We find many surprises in what may be thought of as the most childish of the Grimm’s tales, including silk ladders, salad addiction, barren deserts, and a villain with more depth than first meets the eye.

After the story we discuss the more adult themes of the tale, why witches get such a bad rep, a Lithuanian long hair festival, and how it can all be traced back to 17th century Naples.

See the animated video by our competition winner here: http://tiny.cc/mqvi7y 

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Live instrumental performance of “Beau Soir” (Beautiful Evening) written by Claude Debussy // Chopin’s Opus 10 Twelve Grand Etudes (F Major) Performed by Martha Goldstein 

In The Hare’s Bride, a young maiden minding her cabbages gets whisked off to an unexpected wedding under a rainbow.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Johannes Brahms's 16 Waltzes, Op. 39, #2 - Performed by Martha Goldstein// Ludwig van Beethoven's Sonata no. 15 in d major, op. 28 'pastorale' - iv. rondo. allegro, ma non troppo - Performed by Karine Gilanyan

Decapitation, magical singing birds, and human black puddings – it can only be the long-awaited story 'The Juniper Tree'.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Beethoven's Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Major, Op. 24 "Spring" by Corey Cerovsek, (violin) & Paavali Jumppanen (piano) // Chopin's Opus 10, No. 7, Twelve Grand Etudes C Major performed by Martha Goldstein

In ‘The Riddle’, a princess pits her wits against a wandering king’s son. But who will win? And where does a gang of murders, a witch, a hungry raven, golden syrup and Batman fit into all this?

After the story, we go on a riddling journey through time from the Queen of Sheba to Turandot.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other music: Johannes Brahms's 16 Waltzes, Op. 39, #4 Performed by Martha Goldstein // Ludwig Van Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op 101 Movement II performed by Daniel Veesey