Huhate

[Song from Moluccas]

____

Arr. Harris Ang

About the Song

Huhate, with text written in Ambonese Malay, is a traditional childrens song from Moluccas in the
eastern part of Indonesia. The word huhate itself means fishing rod (noun) or to fish (verb). The
text directly translated to an advice to fish or to cast your net well so as to avoid getting durians
skin which is very sharp due to its many thorns. This is actually a wise advice for youngsters about
the importance to be wary when making friends so as to avoid being friends with just anyone.
Original Melody

Text and Translation

Lyrics

Word-to-word Translation

Paraphrased Translation

Orang muda huhate bae bae

Jangan sampe dapa kuli durian
Pasang mata telinga
kalau mencari teman
Jangan sampe dapa kuli durian

orang muda / huhate / bae bae

youngsters / fish / well

Dear youngsters, be careful when

searching
Lest you get durians skin
Use eyes and ears when looking for
friends
Lest you get durians skin

Huhate, huhate
huhate bae bae
Jangan sampe
sembarang oranglah tagai

pasang / mata / telinga

put on / eye / ear

Sioh jangan, sioh jangan

jang paparipi
Kuli durian sioh baduri

jangan / sampe / dapa / kuli durian

dont / until / get / durians skin

kalau / mencari / teman

if / search / friend
sembarang / oranglah / tagai
random / people / accidentally hooked

Search well
Dont get involved with just anyone
Really dont
Dont rush
Durians skin is really thorny

sioh / jang / paparipi

really / dont / rushing
baduri
thorny

About the Arrangement

To preserve the simplicity of the song, this arrangement is mostly a duet between Sopranos and
Altos or Tenors and Basses, singing separately as a pair or echoing. When all four parts sing
together, it is to create a voice density build up to emphasise the message of the song. This
arrangement also employs the use of ostinato to mimic the little voice in your head uttering the
advice (bar 32-50).

About the Arranger

Harris was born in Ambon, Indonesia in 1987 before moving to Singapore in 1999. He developed
serious interest in music while playing the trombone in Balestier Hill Secondary School Band. His
fascination with choral music led him to join the Meridian Junior College Choir and later on The
NUSChoir (National University of Singapore Choir), where in his third year, he was appointed the
Student Conductor. In 2009, he co-led the choir to emerge as Folklore Category Champion at the
international choral festival Orientale Conceptus II in Hangzhou, China. Besides singing and
conducting, Harris has also choreographed for The NUSChoir since 2007. The songs he had
choreographed have been award-winning pieces that the choir have performed in various
competitions and festivals around the world.
Harris presently sings in and is the Creative Director of The Graduate Singers.