Ödi Ödi

Composer — Traditional Tamil Song
Arranger —  Arranged by Stephen Hatfield
Voicing + performing forces — Treble or Mixed Voices
Call Number — 4134
Level — Easy/Medium 

The Stephen Hatfield setting of Ödi Ödi - a Tamil folksong - is a breath of fresh air, and also arranged by a Canadian! Using contrasting groupings in 7/8 time to juxtapose upper and lower voices, the composer has the lower group singing almost entirely in 2+2+3, while the higher voices are 3+2+2. The pronunciation guide is clear for both those familiar with IPA and those needing some explanation. Our choir is mixed voices, but the setting is equally suited to treble ensemble. The text is a saying or proverb that lends itself well to themes such as possibility, light, insight or growth: “Untold millions of people run and run, constantly seeking, grow desperate and die looking for the light that is within them.”

​Contributed by Joy-Anne Murphy