WBUR Releases 2023 Folk Tale About Musician Trading Violin For Gold

WBUR-FM has re-released an episode of its Circle Round podcast titled 'The Sweetest Sounds.' The original broadcast aired on October 17, 2023. The new version serves as an encore for the show's audience.

The story centers on Lilien, a traveling musician who plays violin in town squares and taverns across central Europe. Her music captivates crowds, causing them to dance and drop coins into her hat. Despite the attention, Lilien struggles to make a living. She often eats only bread and tea and sleeps outdoors.

Lilien considers giving up music to settle down. She dreams of owning land, a house, and livestock such as chickens and cows. However, she continues to feel a calling to play.

At a country fair, a mysterious woman in a red velvet dress watches Lilien perform. The woman offers a trade. She proposes giving Lilien gold in exchange for the violin. The woman claims to be a wizardess who lacks the power to enchant people like Lilien's music does.

Lilien agrees to the trade after seeing the gold. The wizardess transports them to a waterfall where a pool is lined with pebbles of pure gold. Lilien plays one final song. She kisses the instrument and hands it over. The wizardess disappears in red smoke.

Lilien collects the gold and buys a yellow cottage with vegetable fields and a flower garden. She also purchases a coop of chickens and a herd of cows. She settles into a life of comfort, waking daily to feed animals and milk cows.

The episode is adapted from tales originating with the Roma people of modern-day Hungary. Rebecca Sheir adapted the story for the podcast. Sofie Kodner edited the episode. Eric Shimelonis provided original music and sound design. Sabina Hahn is the featured artist.

Rachel Martin and Ayesha Rascoe narrate the episode. Martin has hosted Weekend Edition Sunday, Morning Edition, and Up First. Rascoe hosts Weekend Edition Sunday and the Saturday episodes of Up First. Both are known to public radio audiences.

Christian Hebel performs the violin parts. He has contributed to recordings that won multi-Platinum, Gold, Emmy, Academy, Tony, and Grammy Awards. He also appears in other Circle Round episodes, including 'The Magpie With Salt On Her Tail' and 'The Beggar and the Baker’s Daughter.'

The podcast encourages listeners to create their own music. It suggests recording a song or instrument performance and sharing it with friends or sending it to the show via email.