Encore: Ariana’s Music

Summary

Circle Round Podcast Summary

Episode: Encore: Ariana’s Music
Host/Producer: WBUR's Circle Round
Release Date: January 7, 2025

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Introduction

In this enchanting episode of Circle Round, host Rebecca Shear brings to life the captivating folktale "Ariana's Music." Adapted from ancient Greek origins, the story is enriched with rich soundscapes and stellar voice performances, including insights from Golden Globe-nominated actress Mireille Enos. The episode not only entertains but also imparts valuable lessons about humility, integrity, and the true essence of artistry.

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The Story of Ariana’s Music

Ariana’s Gifted Talent

The tale begins in the ancient Greek city of Corinth, where Ariana, a humble yet extraordinarily talented musician, mesmerizes all who hear her play the kithara—a traditional stringed instrument.

Rebecca Shear [03:15]: "Ariana played a handheld stringed instrument called the kithara. But when Ariana made music, she didn't just pluck the strings on the kithara's wooden body, she plucked the heartstrings of anyone who was listening."

Ariana's music has a magical quality that transcends species, captivating children, adults, and even animals. Her performances halt playful activities and bring serene silence to nature itself.

The King's Request

Ariana's unparalleled musicianship catches the attention of the King of Corinth, who summons her to the palace to represent his court in an upcoming music competition on the island of Sicily.

King [04:05]: "Ariana, a great music competition is coming up. It will be held across the sea on the island of Sicily, and will last three whole days and nights. Your kithara playing has become legendary across the land. Will you bring honor and glory to Corinth and represent my royal court in the contest?"

Despite her humility, Ariana is honored and accepts the King's request, setting sail for Sicily with her prized kithara.

The Competition in Sicily

Upon arriving at Sicily, Ariana finds a grand festival bustling with thousands of spectators eager to witness the finest musicians. After three intense days and nights of performances, Ariana takes the stage last. Her music silences the restless crowd, earning her first-place victory and a chest filled with treasure as the grand prize.

Mireille Enos (as Ariana) [07:28]: "Oh, that? That's the treasure I won at the music competition in Sicily. Honestly, I don't play my kithara for gold or glory, but I guess I'll be going back home with both."

The Captain’s Betrayal

As Ariana returns to Corinth on a merchant ship, the captain and crew conspire to steal her treasure and dispose of her, intending to leave her stranded at sea.

Captain [10:14]: "If you want to go back to Corinth, you'll have to swim."

Ariana, recognizing the peril, confronts the captain and pleads for one final performance.

Mireille Enos (as Ariana) [12:03]: "But please grant me one final wish. Allow me to play my beloved kithara one last time."

Ariana’s Final Song and Rescue

Reluctantly, the captain agrees, and Ariana's final performance summons a school of dolphins that rescue her from the ship, guiding her safely back to Corinth.

Mireille Enos (as Ariana) [13:15]: "This entire chest of fancy riches just for plucking a couple of harp strings."

Her unwavering commitment to her art and her pure intentions earn her not only her rightful treasure but also the respect and admiration of the King.

Return to Corinth and Resolution

Upon her return, Ariana reveals the captain's deceit. The King, moved by Ariana's talent and integrity, reinstates her position as the court musician and ensures justice for her.

King [16:25]: "Ariana, she was the true treasure, a real gem. The way she plucked and strummed the strings of her kithara was like magic."

Ariana continues to share her music both within the palace and by the shore, fostering a harmonious relationship with nature and her beloved dolphins.

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Key Themes and Insights

• Integrity Over Wealth: Ariana's refusal to value gold over her passion underscores the importance of staying true to one's values.
• The Power of Art: Her music's ability to move hearts and even alter the natural world highlights art's transformative power.
• Humility and Honor: Despite her success, Ariana remains humble, earning genuine respect and loyalty.

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Notable Quotes

• Rebecca Shear [04:27]: "Ariana wasn't just a gifted musician, she was a humble one. So the king's request made her blush."
• Mireille Enos (as Ariana) [09:25]: "Honestly, friends, I don't play my kithara for the riches. I just love to make music and make people happy. That's the only reward I need."
• King [16:25]: "I don't care about losing the chest of treasure, but Ariana, she was the true treasure, a real gem."

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Conclusion

"Ariana's Music" is a beautifully woven narrative that combines ancient folklore with timeless lessons. Through Ariana's journey, listeners are reminded of the enduring value of art, the strength found in humility, and the rewards of maintaining one's integrity.

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Listener Activity

At the episode's end, listeners are encouraged to engage in a creative activity:

1. Gratitude Collage: Reflect on what you’re thankful for.
2. Gather magazines, newspapers, or print images from the computer.
3. Create a collage on a large piece of paper or poster board.
4. Display your creation at home and share a photo on Instagram using the tag #CircleRoundPodcast.

Additionally, there are coloring pages and soundtracks available on the Circle Round website for further engagement.

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Special Thanks

The episode credits include contributions from:

• Actors: L. Borders, Kevin Corbett, Jefferson Russell, Nick Sholley, Ryan Schreim, and Mireille Enos.
• Music and Sound Design: Eric Shyamalonis
• Story Adaptation: Rebecca Shear
• Illustrations: Sabina Hahn

Discover more stories, join the Circle Round Club, and explore additional resources at WBUR.org/CircleRound.

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Fan Voices

Listeners shared their favorite stories, such as "Princess and the Bear," "Granny Snowstorm," "Laughing Pod," and "Every Other Friday," highlighting the podcast's broad appeal and diverse storytelling.

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Circle Round continues to be a beloved source of engaging and meaningful stories for children and families, fostering deeper conversations and creative expression through its thoughtful adaptations of folktales from around the world.

Transcript

[Rebecca Shear]

Support for the Circle Round podcast comes from Indeed. Are you hiring with Indeed? Your search is over.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

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[Rebecca Shear]

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[Eric Shyamalonis]

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[Rebecca Shear]

Job sites, and listeners. Get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility@ Indeed.com CircleRound that's Indeed.com CircleRound terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? You need Indeed Hi Rebecca Scheer here with some really Fun News. On February 8th, Circle Round LIVE is coming to Symphony hall in Boston and you're invited. Join us for a live recording of two new episodes featuring me, composer Eric Shyamalanis, plus Boston Symphony Orchestra players and a star studded cast. Get your tickets [e-mail] circleround.

[Mireille Enos]

WBUR podcasts Boston.

[Rebecca Shear]

The new year is upon us and the Circle Round team is hard at work producing new episodes for you to enjoy. We're also gearing up for a bunch of live shows starting February 8th at Boston's Symphony Hall. Join me, Rebecca Scheer and composer Eric Shyamalonis for a live recording of two new episodes with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Get your tickets at the events [e-mail] CircleRound for now, please enjoy this favorite episode from the archives. It's about something very near and dear to my and Eric's hearts. Music. We'll be back with a new episode next week. Do you have a favorite musical instrument? Maybe you enjoy the thumping sound of the drums or the sweet strains of the violin? In today's story, we'll hear about an instrument that captivates everyone who hears it, whether they have skin or scales, hair or hides, feathers or fins. I'm Rebecca Scheer and welcome to Circle Round, where story time happens all the time. Today, our story is called Ariana's Music. Versions of this tale go back to ancient Greece. Some really great people came together to bring you our telling of this folktale, including Mirei Enos, the Golden Globe nominated star of the Killing on AMC Hannah and Good Omens on Amazon prime and World War Z. So circle around everyone for Ariana's music. In the ancient Greek city of Corinth, there lived a musician named Ariana. Ariana played a handheld stringed instrument called the kithara. But when Ariana made music, she didn't just pluck the strings on the kithara's wooden body, she plucked the heartstrings of anyone who was listening. Children dropped their toys and danced. Men and women quit their work and swayed even the animals took notice. The nightingales ceased their singing, the squirrels halted their scampering, and the fish in the sea stopped their splashing the moment Ariana began to play. Ariana's kithara playing eventually caught the attention of the king. One bright that sunny morning, the great ruler summoned her to his palace.

[King]

Ariana, a great music competition is coming up. It will be held across the sea on the island of Sicily, and will last three whole days and nights. Your Cathar playing has become legendary across the land. Ariana, will you bring honor and glory to Corinth and represent my royal court in the contest?

[Rebecca Shear]

Ariana wasn't just a gifted musician, she was a humble one. So the king's request made her blush.

[Mireille Enos]

Oh, I am flattered to be asked, you, Majesty. I would be honored to sail to Sicily and compete. Thank you.

[Rebecca Shear]

A few days later, Ariana boarded a merchant ship and crossed the sea to Sicily. As the ship pulled into port, Ariana strapped her kithara over her shoulder and gave the captain a friendly wave.

[Mireille Enos]

I appreciate the lift from Corinth, sir. I'll see you and your crew for the return trip in just three days.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

We'll be waiting.

[Rebecca Shear]

When Ariana reached the island's central square, she could hardly believe her eyes. The big stone plaza was festooned with flags and streamers and packed with thousands of spectators eager to hear the most dazzling musicians in the world perform. Just as the king said, the festival lasted three whole days and nights, and Ariana was the last musician on the list. So by the time she and her kithara took the stage, the audience had grown restless and rowdy. But the moment she began plucking the strings, a hush fell over the crowd as Ariana's music rose and fell, dipped and swirled. Eyes brimmed with tears, jaws dropped, hearts swelled, but nobody moved a muscle. The dogs stopped chasing the ca and the cats stopped chasing the mice. Even the whales, dolphins and turtles in the sea stayed stock still. Every living soul within earshot just held their breath and froze, transfixed, until Ariana's final note died out. There was a moment of silence, and then, all at once, the entire island erupted with noise as the audience in the square jumped to their feet and showered Ariana with cheers and applause. The judges hung a laurel wreath around Ariana's neck and declared her the first place winner of the competition. Then they presented her with the grand prize, an enormous chest of treasure. When Ariana returned to the merchant ship, treasure chest in total, the captain welcomed her back and had his crew raise the sails and pull the ship out of the harbor. It was only after the ship had entered the open sea and Cicely had vanished over the horizon that the captain sidled over to Ariana and pointed his thumb toward the chest.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

So, Ariana, what's in that big chest you brought on board? You didn't have it with you when we sailed from Corinth.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ariana smiled.

[Mireille Enos]

Oh, that? That's the treasure I won at the music competition in Sicily. Honestly, I don't play my kithara for gold or glory, but I guess I'll be going back home with both.

[Rebecca Shear]

The captain arched an eyebrow.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

That entire chest is filled with treasure, you say, just for playing a few silly songs?

[Mireille Enos]

Well, I wouldn't call my songs silly. I worked really hard to write them. I mean, it isn't easy to write so many.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Hey, folks.

[Rebecca Shear]

The captain grinned as he called out to the other sailors, Ariana here won.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

This entire chest of fancy riches just for plucking a couple of harp strings.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ariana held up her kithara.

[Mireille Enos]

Oh, well, actually, the kithara is a lyre, not a harp. The difference is in the strings. You see, a lyre has its strings go over this little piece called a bridge, while a harp has its strings.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Whatever. My point is, I think we're in the wrong profession crew. I mean, how long would we have to sail this ship across the seas before we earned a whole chest full of riches? A hundred years? 200? I'd say at least a thousand years, Boss.

[Rebecca Shear]

If not 2000, I'd be a great, great great great great great grandmother by then.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

And I'd be a great, great great great great grandfather.

[Rebecca Shear]

As the ship's crew jested and joked, Ariana shuddered down to her shoes. She didn't like the way this conversation was going.

[Mireille Enos]

Honestly, friends, I don't play my kithara for the riches. I just love to make music and make people happy. That's the only reward I need.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Well, if that's the only reward you need.

[Rebecca Shear]

The captain snapped his fingers.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Then we'd be happy to take this reward off your hands.

[Rebecca Shear]

Just like that. Two sailors scurried over, hoisted up the chest, and began carrying it away.

[Mireille Enos]

Fine. If you want to keep the treasure, so be it. But good luck telling the king where it went. Don't you think His Majesty will be awfully suspicious when he learns that I won the music competition but sailed back to Corinth empty handed?

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Actually, no.

[Rebecca Shear]

The captain's eyes gleamed.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Because I don't think you're sailing home, Ariana. Nope. If you want to go back to.

[Rebecca Shear]

Corinth he gestured toward the wave capped sea.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

You'll have to swim.

[Rebecca Shear]

What will Ariana do next? What would you do if you were Ariana? We'll find out what happens after a quick break. If you're a Circle Round superfan, we've got a super fun opportunity for you. Join the Circle Round Club and you'll support our public radio podcast. And as this happy member raves, get cool stuff too.

[Luke]

My grandfather bought me a Circle Round membership last Christmas. I really like it because we get a stuffed lion and a reusable bag which we use all the time for library. But I also enjoy the birthday message from Rebecca Shear Grown Ups.

[Rebecca Shear]

Sign up your superfan [e-mail] CircleRoundClub I'm Rebecca Scheer. Welcome back to Circle Round Today. Our story is called Ariana's Music before the break, a kithara player named Ariana won a chest of treasure in a music competition in Sicily. But as she sailed on a merchant ship back home to Corinth, the captain and crew stole her treasure and told her they were throwing her overboard. Ariana knew that Corinth was still hundreds of miles away. There was no way she could swim that far. So she took a deep breath and fixed the captain with a steely stare.

[Mireille Enos]

If your cold heart is set on throwing me into the sea, making off with my treasure, and telling the king whatever twisted lies you managed to cook up when you return to Corinth, well, there is nothing I can do to stop you. But please grant me one final wish. Allow me to play my beloved Kathara one last time.

[Rebecca Shear]

The captain shrugged his shoulders at his crew. The crew shrugged back.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

All right, fine. You can play one more song. But make it snappy.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ariana grasped her kithara's strap, slung the instrument over her shoulder, then climbed up to the ship's prow. With a lump in her throat, she stood straight and tall, gazing out at the endless blue sea. Then she lifted her fingers and began to play in spite of themselves. The sailors stopped scrubbing the ship's decks and hauling the ship's ropes and began to sway. The gulls above slowed their swooping, and the fish below ceased their swimming. And at last, when Ariana's song came to a close, she hugged her kithara to her chest, closed her eyes, and flung herself into the sea. With her beloved instrument strapped around her shoulder, Ariana sank down deeper and deeper into the darkening water. And then, to her astonishment, she stopped sinking and started to rise back up again. Higher and higher, Ariana rose faster until her head broke past the surface of the waves, and she gasped in a great lungful of air. What's going on? Next thing Ariana knew, she was surging forward, her body skimming through the sea as if she were galloping on a swift underwater horse. But when Ariana glanced down, she saw that it wasn't a horse at all. It was a dolphin. A whole school of dolphins had gathered around the ship's hull to hear Ariana's one last song. And the moment she jumped into the water, they had surrounded her. One of the dolphins scooped Ariana onto its back and brought her to the surface. And now all of the creatures were swimming in formation, speeding their way back to Corinth.

[Mireille Enos]

This is amazing.

[Rebecca Shear]

Ariana squeezed her legs against the dolphin's smooth, gray body. Then she grabbed the strap of her kithara and swung it behind her back so she could grasp onto the dolphin's slippery fin with two hands. And in that way, Ariana and the dolphin swam all the way back to Corinth. The kind animals dropped Ariana in the shallow water offshore, then leaped and twisted in the air before darting back out to sea.

[Mireille Enos]

Thank you, friends. Thank you.

[Rebecca Shear]

After catching her breath, Ariana scrambled to her feet, untangled a starfish from the strings of her kithara, then sprinted all the way to the king's palace. But as it happens, the king was busy talking to the very captain who had stolen Ariana's treasure and forced her to jump overboard. Ariana hid behind a big stone pillar and listened in.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

Oh, you, Highness, it was simply awful. We were sailing back from Sicily, praising Ariana for her triumphant victory in the music competition and begging her to play her exquisite instrument for us when a storm blew in like you've never seen. The savage squall came upon us like a ferocious beast. And before we knew what was happening, Ariana was swept overboard along with all her treasure. We tried saving her, your Majesty, but it was no use. She was gone.

[Rebecca Shear]

From Ariana's hiding place behind the pillar, she saw the king brush away a tear.

[King]

Oh, that's tragic, Captain. Simply tragic. I don't care about losing the chest of treasure, but Ariana, she was the true treasure, a real gem. The way she plucked and strummed the strings of her kithara was like magic. Now I'll never hear her play again. And yet, somehow, my memory of Ariana's kithara is so clear, so vivid, it's as if I'm listening to her play right now, this very minute.

[Rebecca Shear]

The sound of the kithara made the captain's blood run cold. Was he being haunted by Ariana's ghost?

[Luke]

Um.

[Eric Shyamalonis]

I'm sorry, your majesty, but surely your royal ears deceive you. Ariana has taken her final bow. She's played her swan song. She's performed her grand finale.

[Mireille Enos]

Oh, I have, have I?

[Rebecca Shear]

No sooner had Ariana sprung out from behind the pillar than the captain fainted dead away, and the king leaped up so high, his crowned head hit the ceiling.

[King]

Ariana, could it be. But the captain told me that you were.

[Mireille Enos]

Oh, I know what the captain told you, your highness, but don't believe a word of it. When we sailed away from Sicily and reached the open water, he and his crew stole my treasure and forced me to jump overboard.

[Rebecca Shear]

She gazed out the window toward the sea.

[Mireille Enos]

Luckily, I was rescued by some very dear friends.

[Rebecca Shear]

After Ariana told her story, the king sent his guards to inspect the merchant ship. Sure enough, they found Ariana's chest of treasure and a very guilty crew. After that, Ariana became the king's court musician, and she played her kithara for the royal sovereign every single day. But she also found time to play outside the palace walls, down by the shore of the water, where she strummed and plucked her strings for the swift, sleek, graceful dolphins who loved her music and saved her life. Now it's your turn. Think about everything you're thankful for. Then gather up some magazines, some newspapers, anything you're allowed to cut up and create a collage showing what you're grateful for. You can even print out images or photos from a computer if you'd like. Assemble your pictures and paste them onto a big piece of paper or poster board. Then hang your collage somewhere in your home. And if you'd like, snap a photo of it and share it with us on Instagram. Grown Ups. You can use the tag CircleRoundPodcast. This week's story, Ariana's music was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Kathryn Brewer. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shyamalonis. Circle Round's artist is Sabina Hahn. Sabina has drawn a black and white picture for all 100 plus circle round stories and you can print them out and color them in. Ask a grown up to Visit our website WBUR.org CircleRound and click on soundtrack and coloring pages. Special thanks to this week's actors, L. Borders, Kevin Corbett, Jefferson Russell, Nick Sholley, Ryan Schreim and Mireille Enos. Grown ups. You can see Mireille Enos in the Killing on AMC Hannah and Good Omens on Amazon prime, as well as the epic zombie film World War Z. Our featured instrument this week was the Kithara. You can learn more about this ancient Greek instrument and see a photo of Eric Shyamalanis playing it on our website. Again, that's w WBUR.org CircleRound never want to miss an episode of Circle Round. Why not subscribe? You grown ups can find us on Apple Podcasts or whatever podcast app you use. And please leave us some stars. Write us a review or just tell your friends about the show. Circle Round is a production of wbur, Boston's NPR station. I'm Rebecca Shear. Thanks for Circling Round with us. Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours too.

[Luke]

My name is Luke. I'm from the Philippines. My favorite Circle Round story is the Princess and the Bear. My favorite part is when the princess chooses the third brother. My name is August. My name is Julius. We live in New York City. And my favorite story is Granny Snowstorm. I like the part when Granny Snowstorm says who walks about my garden looking at my food. And my favorite story is the Laughing Pod. I like about the pot and the animal sends kookaburra. My name is Remy. I'm from North Carolina. My favorite is Amos and the Ogle. I like the part and Amos matches the house. My name is Hanya. I live in Dallas, Texas. My favorite story is called Every Other Friday. I like the part where the boy finds out there's a gold coin and a loaf of bread. I love your shows. Hi, My name is Miriam and I live in Dallas, Texas. And my Circle Round story is the Bonanza Pit. And I love the part where the tortoise and monkey race.

[Rebecca Shear]

Bye.

[Luke]

I love your shows. My name is Ada, I live in New York City and my favorite Circle Round story is Lions Whiskers because your family comes in to the door. My name is Hazel and I live in Broomfield, Colorado. My favorite Circle Run story is the most powerful of all and I like the part when all the lights flash and then he's suddenly something new. Hi, my name is Laquisha and I live in Kansas. Air Queen. My favorite Circle Round story is the Magic Paintbrush because I like the music very much.

[Rebecca Shear]

Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry grown ups. You can find all of our Circle Round stories plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages and oh, so much more on our website, WBUR.org CircleRound.