#erna tauro

[henrykathman]

Snufkin's Spring Song | A Moomin song by Tove Jansson | Translated and covered by Henry Kathman

Read more for the song’s history, lyrics, and download links!

Snufkin's Spring Song (or Snusmumrikens vårvisa in the original Swedish) was a song written by Erna Tauro and Lyrics by Tove Jansson for the music book "Songs from Moominvalley". The song was one of many tunes composed made in this collaboration, and would later be rearranged in 2019 by Emma Klingenberg for the Moomin Park located in Hanno, Japan. Like many pieces of Moomin related media, there were never any English translations produced for these songs, so I took it upon myself to translate the lyrics myself and have reached out to the Wright Step to help make the instrumental and mixing of the song. Apologies in advance if my translation isn't perfect, but I hope you enjoy this slight change of pace as we move to the cold months of winter.

All $1 Patrons can download an MP3 and WAV version of the song here!

You can support the Wright Step's work at his YouTube, Twitter, and Spotify!

LYRICS: I wander through the forest, upon an early spring It was as I expected, as I’ve left it The ground so full of footprints, the sky so full of wings Of insects, all awoken from their respite.

I wander at my fancy, under my hat of Green. I play at day and night, and the hours in between. I do not seek possessions, for one must always be free, To go about your searching, for your own melody.

I longed to write an opus, devoted to the streams A quiet tune devoted to the moonlight A song on my mouth organ, for migrant birds to gleam A tune of glory to my lonely delight.

But hours become smaller, and dusk approaches ere long. And now I can no longer find a singular small song. There is anticipation for the spring’s melancholy. And for this lonely traveler, who is completely free.

Twitter | Tumblr | Podcast | Patreon

[marsmombestmom]

1963 pamphlet from Lilla teatern. Predates Crash, and is mostly a bunch of thanks to their sponsors (probably who this was made for), but there's still some fun stuff and info in here. I don't remember if we ever knew before what Konstberiderskan was written for. There’s also a Map drawn by Ham and listings of the plays they've performed, including all their work abroad.

[skruttet]

Erna: What a big cat you have!

Tove: It’s gotten a little too fat.

Erna: (chuckles) Psipsu... How old is Psipsu now?

Tove: 12 years old.

[kattahj]

Elina Salo - Lilla Mys visa (1969)

I thought I’d take advantage of the Moomin popularity by posting some Moomin songs from the old, old TV series, fifty years ago. Starting off with Little My!

The lyrics are by Tove Jansson, the music by Erna Tauro, and the quick translation (more literal than poetic) under the cut is mine.

Little My's Song

Hahaha! You call that a song? I'll let you hear mine! It's written by me, the angry and enchanting little My!

There are people who are afraid of water, and people who are afraid of the city, there are people who are afraid at night, and people who are afraid in the daytime. But here you can see someone who experiences a lot, who laughs and fights policemen and has parties, who makes a ruckus and shouts into the skies: the enchanting, angry, happy My!

There are people who are nuts about cleaning, and people who are afraid of dust. There are people who are green with boredom, and people who are red with shame. But here you can see...

There are people who are bored all day, and people who are always in a hurry, there are people who get a stomach ache with worries about what's right. But here you can see...

You would never manage without me! Ha! It'd all turn into one big sappy sauce.

[skruttet]

Tove Jansson & Friends - 1970 - (Bad) English Subtitles

[skruttet]

(Actors: Lasse Pöysti (Borgmästare), Stina Svensson (Pålle), Margret von Martens (Telefonfröken), Elli Groven (Adéle), Signe Liljeberg (Mamsan), Gösta Bredefeldt (Gullet) from the left). 

  In 1963, Tove wrote a few songs written by Erna Tauro for a Crash play by Lilla Teatern and scripted by her brother Lars Jansson . One of the songs in the play is  Psykofnattvisan, which was later recorded by the original artist Lasse Pöysti. Other songs included Rosenvalsen and  Si-och-Så Visan. The Rosenvalsen song was featured in the 1969  Mumintrollen TV series called Kärlekens rosor , and the Si-och-Så Visan song is also featured in a slightly modified version. Skrämd spökvisan might also have been involved in the play , which also exists as a recording of Lasse Pöyst. In addition to singing, Tove also made staging and costume designs for the play. Ateneum's Tove exhibition featured Tove's costume designs for Crash . The play, which has been described as musical and revolutionary in various sources, was performed by Lilla Teatern in 1963 or 1964, depending on the source, and directed by Vivica Bandler and Kirsten Sörlie. In some sources, the name of the play is Krasch. Crash is an adult fairy tale in the Moomin Valley. The play does not feature familiar characters from the Moomins, but "strange tail-like creatures," as one critic said. The play is described as a "naïve drama" with the role of "- wild inhabitants of the valley, practicing tail-making skills and being the target of a New Zealand civilization attempt." Crash  is also said to criticize "the control systems of the welfare society - for human freedom and diversity."

Tove's costume designs for Påle (the last two pics) look like ocs someone in the fandom would create nowadays. that’s so cool.

[skruttet]

Bo Andersson singing an extract of Höstvisa, 1970

[kattahj]

Gunvor Sandkvist - Misans klagolåt (1969)

Second Moomin song from the old TV series, this time courtesy of the ever melancholy Misabel! (Why not Moomin himself? you ask. I'm basically taking my favourite songs first.) Lyrics by Tove Jansson, music by Erna Tauro, quick translation by me.

Misabel's Lament

A misabel I have been all my days, miserable was my mother, misery was my father. A misabel I have been and a misabel I shall remain. It feels so good to sink into mild melancholy.

And if I were beautiful and my nose wonderful, admired by everybody and worshiped by each one, then perhaps someone who was grand and rich would send me a rose in cellophane from a shop.

But everything must end and happiness flees. There are too many thorns on every little rose. I walk in the moonlight by the black river and pick anemones and think about myself.