The Apple Seed

Tellers and Stories on BYUradio.

Somewhere between 1477 and 1482, Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Boticelli would create a panel painting entitled, Allegory of Spring or, in its Italian, Primavera. The painting depicts a group of mythological figures in a garden of over 150 plants and flowers including orange, mytle, and laurel. Each plant flowers in the countryside of Florence, Italy between March and May. Scholars agree that symbol-rich painting embodies humanistic ideals of the burgeoning of life and love in the world, and the presence of the divine in what would have been considered mundane before the art and ideologies of the Renaissance. So today, we’ve chosen some stories that we think embody some of the ideals of this famous painting that marries the human with the divine and remind us that springtime can happen at any time of the year through the power of art.

Peony Hedge

Jane Stenson is a teller who exhibits a great connection with nature in her work, and this story is no different find more of Jane's work by visiting janestenson.com

The First Flower

A song about watching things grow. Learn more about Mustard's Retreat www.mustardsretreat.com

The Empty Pot

Vera in the word Primavera, is the Latin word for real or true. Honesty is one of the most important seeds we can plant. Learn more about Jill Lamede by visiting www.lamede.com

The Weeping Willow

A story about a tree that just wants to do its best to grow. Learn more about Sheila Arnold by visiting www.mssheila.org

The Elf of Springtime

The prime of one's life often comes when we aren't necessarily expecting it. www.oddsbodkin.net

The Sun is Returning

A song about springtime from Norman Walker. Find more of his work by visiting www.normwalker.com

Reincarnation

A poem with a humanistic view of the environment from David Holt. Find more of David's work as a storyteller by visiting www.davidholt.com/storytelling

Edith's Lyrebird

A love story between a woman, a bird, and her garden. Learn more about Laura Simms by visiting www.laurasimms.com

Tributes to humanity's best friend. Stories featured in this episode:

Some Dog

A tall tale from Mary Hamilton about a peculiar country dog with a love for literature. Learn more about Mary Hamilton by visiting www.maryhamilton.info

Das Buck

Bil Lepp gets inspired by Jack London and tries to get Buck to hear the call of the wild. Learn more about Bil Lepp by visiting www.leppstorytelling.com

Noah's Ark

Have you ever wondered why dogs have cold wet noses? Irish storyteller has Liz Weir has the folkloric answer.

Lady Marian's Wolfhound

Another story from Irish storyteller Liz Weir about the traits of a loyalty between human and animal. Learn more about Liz Weir by visiting www.lizweir.org

Show and Tell

In this story, Rivka Willick’s mom makes up stories about a planet of dogs and young Rivka takes the stories with her throughout her grade school years. Learn more a about Rivka by visiting www.simplyextraordinarytales.com

Dog and Elephant

An Indian folktale about an unlikely friendship between species from Laura Simms. Find more of Laura's work by visiting www.laurasimms.com

Highlights from episodes that aired from Monday, April 3rd to Friday, April 7th. Episodes featured in this Saturday's round-up: 

Someone Who Made A Difference - Dr. Jill Rudy, of the BYU English Department, brings her American Folklore Class to join us in Studio 6 to share stories of people who made a difference in their lives. Hear stories of brave ancestors and smart relatives, the charity of strangers, quick thinkers, and other every day heroes who exhibit courage in thoughtful acts of kindness and wisdom. 

Okee Dokee Brothers - In this episode, Joe Mailander, one half of the dynamic duo the Okee Dokee Brothers, joins Sam Payne in conversation to discuss songwriting, storytelling, folklore and traveling through America.

Poetry - Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” Robert Frost said, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness,” and Charles Baudelaire implores us, “always be a poet, even in prose.” This episode is a brief survey of poetry from Western history and civilization. 

The Case of the Shooting Star - This episode features the enigmatic drama "The Case of the Shooting Star" produced by our friends at  Cape Cod Radio Mystery Theater. Join Underhill in another mystery as he and Doctor Scofield, check into the science and history of meteors, as well as the laws of probability, when a man is struck dead by a flying object.

Take the Mountain Down - This bluegrass narrative based on the story of the Prodigal Son, commissioned by R. Don Oscarson was written by Steven and Marvin, and performed and filmed for television for BYUtv. The production also included Sam Payne in its cast. You can watch a performance of Take the Mountain down by clicking this link: Take the Mountain Down on BYUtv

At the suggestion of assistant producer Whitney Snow, who has always been a longtime fan of the local Utah arts & music scene, Sam Payne spends the hour talking with Steven Kapp Perry (who can also be found hosting BYUradio's Highway 89) and Marvin Payne about a musical production entitled "Take the Mountain Down."

The bluegrass narrative based on the story of the Prodigal Son, commissioned by R. Don Oscarson was written by Steven and Marvin, and performed and filmed for television for BYUtv. The production also included Sam Payne in its cast. You can watch a performance of Take the Mountain down by clicking this link: Take the Mountain Down on BYUtv

Also included in this episode is another Biblical story from Syd Lieberman, from the Old Testament he shares the story of David and Goliath. Learn more about Syd by visiting this link: www.sydlieberman.com

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” Robert Frost said, “A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness,” and Charles Baudelaire implores us, “always be a poet, even in prose.” And so today, we’re going to take a brief excursion in the world of poetry in Western civilization, touching on the impulse to express as it is found in ancient and modern settings. Before written language, humanity’s history and heritage was held in sound and what better sound is there than a particularly poignant poem?

Beowulf

Syd Lieberman performs a rendition of one of hte oldest surviving poems in the English language. To learn more about Syd Lieberman visit www.sydlieberman.com

The Grecian Urn

Inspired by John Keats' poem, "Ode to a Grecian Urn," Robin Schulte shares a story that explains how art helps make memories last. To learn more about Robin's work visit www.robinschulte.com

Image of a Cowboy

We think of cowboys as an icon of Americana, of true grit, and of a time long gone which are all things that make the cowboy image ripe for the poetic treatment. Joe Herrington shares this poem that highlights the iconic type in American history. To learn more about Joe Herrington visit www.joeherrington.com

The Colored Soldiers

Storyteller Mitch G. Capel dedicates some of his work as a performer to highlighting the life and poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a figure in American history who is widely acknowledged as the first important African-American poet in American literature. To learn more about Mitch G. Capel visit www.gjbug.com

When Malindy Sings

Paul Laurence Dunbar's poetry is revered by many people throughout history for his representation of black life in America at the turn-of-the-century. Oni Lasana is a multi-disciplinary storyteller who draws from African American history, among other areas. Learn more about Oni Lasana's work by visiting www.onilasana.com

Bristlecone Pine

A cowboy poem from Waddie Mitchell that showcases the observant eye of a poet. Learn more about Waddie Mitchell by visiting www.somagency.com/waddie-mitchell

I Am From

Minton Sparks uses music and poetry to paint electrifying pictures of the rural South. To learn more about Minton Sparks visit mintonsparks.com

Jack Poems

Do you remember where you first heard your first nursery rhymes? For Donald Davis, it was from his grandmother. Learn more about his work by visiting www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Ode to 398.2

Storyteller Heather Forest is a performer who knows the importance of a ballad. Here is a short one that discusses how art inspires and begets even more art. Learn more about her work by visiting www.heatherforest.com

What Man Was John Clare?

Leslie Norris was a professor of creative writing and Poet-In-Residence at Brigham Young University. His body of works highlights the beauty of nature and he was considered one of the most important Welsh writers of the post-war period. Read more about the late Leslie Norris by visiting his Wikipedia page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Norris

The Spell of the Woods

Leslie Norris was a professor of creative writing and Poet-In-Residence at Brigham Young University. His body of works highlights the beauty of nature and he was considered one of the most important Welsh writers of the post-war period. Read more about the late Leslie Norris by visiting his Wikipedia page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Norris

“\[The Okee Dokee Brothers] remind us of the American belief that we’re bound for better weather. Their album \[Can You Canoe?] celebrates everyday explorers, young and old, who rediscover that notion daily”– NPR’s All Things Considered

“The lyrics are playful, engaging and subtly filled with life lessons. These are songs that encourage kids to find happiness with fewer material possessions and embrace adventure even in trying situations. Without getting preachy or heavy-handed, Mailander and Lansing come off like happy, kind and fun big brothers eager to show their younger siblings how to have an ethically sound and green-conscious good time.”– Chicago Tribune

Justin Lansing (above, left) and Joe Mailander (above, right) are The Okee Dokee Brothers, an independent American bluegrass and American roots children's music duo from Minneapolis. Their 2012 CD/DVD release Can You Canoe?, with music and videos created during a 2011 paddle down the Mississippi River, won a GRAMMY for Best Children's Album in the 55th GRAMMY Awards. Since then, Joe and Justin have received more GRAMMY Award nominations for their albums (Through the Woods and Saddle Up) and videos, and have published books including Can You Canoe? & Other Adventure Songs and most recently \_The Thousand Star Hotel, \_which is an adaptation of the folktale the Fisherman and His Wife. 

In this episode, Joe Mailander, one half of the dynamic duo, joins Sam Payne in conversation to discuss songwriting, storytelling, folklore and traveling through America. Songs included in this episode:  Haul Away Joe, Black Bear Mama, Somos Amigos, One Horsepower, Roll On River, Big Rock Candy Mountain, This Little Light O' Mine (performed by David Holt).

To learn more about the Okee Dokee Brothers visit this website: www.okeedokee.org

To learn more about David Holt visit: www.davidholt.com

Highlights from episodes broadcast for the week of Monday, March 27, to Friday, March 31. Episodes broadcast this week on The Apple Seed: 

Love Gone Right - In which The Apple Seed Team tries to play matchmaker on the air. 

Vernal Storytelling - In which Sam Payne joins Tim Lowry on stage at the Vernal Storytelling Festival in Vernal, Utah. 

Rambunctious Relatives - In which we feature stories about the chaos in our family tree that brings us all a little closer together. 

Storyteller Spotlight: Donald Davis - In which we feature stories and conversation with the inimitable Donald Davis. 

Shakespeare's First Folio - In which we talk to scholars, directors, actors, and other Shakespeare enthusiasts about what it is that makes William's words so timeless.

From the Folger Shakespeare Library website: "Four hundred years after Shakespeare's death, his characters are timeless and familiar, from wide-eyed Miranda to grim Macbeth. But how do we know about Shakespeare's plays in the first place?

For many of the plays, the answer is a single book: the 1623 First Folio of Shakespeare. Assembled seven years after Shakespeare's death, the First Folio includes 36 of his plays—18 of which had never been before published. Without it, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Tempest, and more could have been lost.

In 2016, in partnership with Cincinnati Museum Center and the American Library Association, First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare will bring the First Folio to all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The exhibition, which also includes panels and digital content, exclusively features First Folios from the Folger, whose collection of 82 First Folios is by far the largest in the world."

The First Folio! tour was brough to Salt Lake City Public Library, where Sam Payne takes us in this episode to explore Shakespeare's influence in storytelling and the arts. Stories and interviews included in this episode:

Interview with Lisa Curt of the Salt Lake City Public Library

Lisa Curt, Assistant Director at the Salt Lake City Public Library, is person responsible for bringing the First Folio to library patrons in Salt Lake City as it tours through the country. Sam Payne discusses Shakespeare history and cultural impact with Lisa as he explores the exhibition.

Interview with Archie Crisanto

Archie Crisanto is a local filmmaker and actor who is directing an upcoming production of "The Taming of the Shrew" in Provo, Utah. He sits down with Sam Payne to talk about adapting Shakespeare for the modern stage.

Interview with Members and Alumni of The Acting Company

Sam Payne is joined in studio by members and alumni of The Acting Company, including company director Suzanne Christensen. The Acting Company is a theatre organization dedicated to bringing Shakespeare to audiences young and old through productions starring children of all ages. In this conversation, Sam Payne and the actors discuss their respective experiences with acting. Learn more about Utah-based Acting Company by visiting www.tacactingcompany.org/about_tac

Anybody with a sibling knows that the family dinner table can be a real knock-down-drag-out, and that bedtime is dog-eat-dog world. Often, the people we love the very most are the ones that know best how to push our buttons and vice versa. There are many ways to be a family and a little chaos can help us come closer with the ones we love.

Is Not Is Too

(Generate

http:/www.byuradio.org/episode/36007309-58e3-41b0-b3e8-de4a4b0e2109?playhead=75&autoplay=true)A song about the one of the tales as old as time: sibling rivalry. Learn more about Bill Harley by visiting www.billharley.com

The Healy Cross

Stubbornness can sometimes be hereditary. Find more of Yvonne Healy's work by visiting www.yhealy.com

Roots and Raccoons

When storyteller Molly Catron worries that her rock n' roll granddaughter might not fit in with their extended country relatives, she learns that blood really is thicker than water. Learn more about Molly Catron's work by visiting www.mollywcatron.com

Uncle Charnel and Aunt Versa

A story about some of Bruce Walker's more eccentric relatives: god-fearing and yet definitely forces to be reckoned with themselves. Visit www.brucestoryteller.com to learn more about Bruce Walker.

Why It Rains

In this story from Kirk Waller's album, "But Why?", Brother Land and Sister Water argue and then work together to feed the hungry people of the earth. Learn more about Kirk Waller by visiting www.kirkwaller.com

Brother Sun, Brother Moon and the Pretty Girl

Another family story of celestial bodies, fear, and fraternity. Learn more about Michael Katz by visiting www.storytellermichael.com