Epo I Tai Tai: The Polynesian Song in the Orff Approach Music Lessons

Epo I Tai Tai, also known as "Epo" or "Tamure," is a traditional Polynesian song that has captured the hearts of people around the world. The song originated in Tahiti and is part of the cultural heritage of the Polynesian people.

The lyrics of Epo I Tai Tai are in the Tahitian language and tell the story of a young girl who is searching for love. The song's title translates to "Where is the one I love?", and the lyrics describe the girl's longing for her true love to come and find her.

While Epo I Tai Tai has been a beloved song in Polynesian culture for generations, it gained worldwide fame in the 1990s when it was featured in a popular French television commercial for a brand of perfume. The commercial featured a group of Polynesian dancers performing a traditional dance to the song, and it quickly became a sensation across Europe.

Since then, Epo I Tai Tai has been covered by numerous artists and has been featured in various movies and television shows. The song has also become a staple in the repertoire of Polynesian dance troupes around the world. Its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm continue to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds and make this song perfect for teaching children basic musical concepts within the Orff Approach. This song is often used along body percussion to teach children importance of rhythm and connection between movements and sounds.

Here are 5 examples of Epo I Tai Tai song performances - from adult contestant choir to kids Orff Approach music lessons.

1. Epo I Tai Tai performed by adult choir during a Brazilian music festival

2. Orff music lesson with rhythmic game based on Epo I Tai Tai song

3. Demonstration of Epo I Tai Tai with body percussion

4. Rhythmic game featuring Epo I Tai Tai during an Orff Approach music lesson

5. Children singing Epo I Tai Tai with body percussion melody

Traditional songs like Epo I Tai Tai are easy to learn even for absolute beginners and may be adapted for Orff activities and other rhythm and music exercises. Our book contains 45 folk and traditional songs from around the world, adapted for one octave and including lyrics, classic sheet music, number-coded notation, and online audio tracks.

The picture on the top of the page is from Traditional Music Channel, Youtube