"Imani and the Magical Bird"

(words by Kari Tauring with Anne Sawyer-Aitch and the other Stories on a String Collaborators, music by Kari Tauring, 2004 BMI)

Written in operetta style, the CD begins with the invocation of our Senses, Humor, and Unconditional Love.

We follow the restless child, Imani, as she interrupts others work with repetitive questions, never pausing to listen for the answers.

Maren sings the mother's part as Anne/Imani questions everything!

On her Grandmother's advice (and the prodding of a friendly squirrel) Imani seeks solitude in the top branches of a tree.
Kari sings Grandmother's story, Gabrielle as Granny.

There in the quiet she hears the spirits sing to her and begins to realize that if she listens from within, she can gain the answers she seeks.

Imani's wise self takes the persona of a bird that lives within her heart with a flute motif representing her wisdom process.

Imani (Anne) and the Wisdom Bird (Tamara Rogers) come alive at the Cedar Cultural Center 2004. Gabrielle as the Father puppet. All photos FMS Enterprises.

"Imani and the Peddler"
(words and music by Kari Tauring, 2004 BMI)

This story finds our heroine with the confidence of her mother and granny, heading to the market on her own to buy wool. While she is tempted by the many things in the Peddler's cart, she overcomes her materialistic frenzy and with the help of her trusty bird and that friendly squirrel. She returns triumphantly home to the pride of her family at what a grown up girl she has shown herself to be.

"Imani and the Fearful Noise"
(words and music by Kari Tauring, 2004 BMI)

Mother rewards Imani's maturity by letting her go on her own around the bend berry picking. Imani faces her fear of the unknown and becomes the heroine of all the woodland animals.