Co-starring with that famous character? The mysterious "Moomin song" ~Idyllvisa~

Introduction

The CD mentioned in a previous note, produced in honor of Tove Jansson—"Moomin Voices".

There are many "Moomin songs" for which Tove Jansson wrote the lyrics herself, and the songs she created with Tauro graced Moomin stage plays and TV programs.
However, Tove Jansson was not the only one who wrote lyrics for "Moomin songs." Her younger brother, Lars Jansson, who was also a co-creator of the Moomin comics, spun poems for Moominvalley as well. There are songs they created together, such as "The Song of the Muddler" and "Tango," as well as songs Lars created alone, such as "Little My's Apple Song."
Even so, the aforementioned CD "Moomin Voices" does not include songs with lyrics by Lars. Is this perhaps because the CD was produced in honor of Tove Jansson?

I see. It seems the concept of this CD is indeed a "Tove Jansson tribute." If so, it is not unreasonable that songs involving Lars were excluded.
Therefore, I had assumed for a while that all the songs included in "Moomin Voices" were written by Tove.

Moomin songs not written by Jansson

While writing a note titled "A collection of 'Moomin songs' created by Tove Jansson," I researched "Moomin Voices" in more detail and noticed that there are songs included in the work despite not having lyrics by Tove Jansson.

• Idyllvisa

• Augusti

• Om allt inte var

These are the three songs.

All of these were composed by Erna Tauro. Naturally, the lyricist is also known. They have been included on records and CDs from decades before "Moomin Voices."
Since they are included in "Moomin Voices," they should, of course, be Moomin-related songs...
However, setting aside songs with lyrics by Lars Jansson (though that might be a rude way to put it), what exactly are these non-Tove-lyricized songs that were included?

Basically, Moomin-related songs (regardless of whether Tove wrote the lyrics or not) are produced for works such as stage plays and TV programs. Familiar examples for Japanese people include the theme songs and insert songs for the Moomin TV anime broadcast during the Showa and Heisei eras.
In other words, were these "Idyllvisa," "Augusti," and "Om allt inte var" also produced for some Moomin work?

What is Idyllvisa?

To conclude, I could hardly find any information on the internet.
As mentioned above, there are music media that contain these songs, but none of the records or CDs seemed to have a direct connection to Moomin.
Multiple artists have sung them, but it is unclear <when>, <who>, and <for what purpose> they were first sung.

Even so, the one I managed to get a little bit of information on was "Idyllvisa". Or rather, it was "Idyllvisa" that I was most interested in and wanted to investigate.
The reason is simple. When listening to this song, the phrase can be heard quite clearly in the chorus (if you can call it that).

The phrase "Moomintroll."

You'll know it when you hear it

—No, wait, it might just be a mishearing. However, if this isn't "Moomintroll," then what could it be?.

Moreover, at the beginning of the "Moomin Voices" version of "Idyllvisa" (URL above), there is a few seconds of what sounds like a conversation between Snorkmaiden and Moomintroll. With my listening skills, I can't make it out at all, but I feel like I barely heard words like "Berätta," "lite," "Snorkfröken," "alldeles säker," and "Berättade trollet."
(As an aside, several tracks on "Moomin Voices" include conversations at the beginning like this. They are likely mostly excerpts from the original novels.)

For now, it seems certain that this song is related to Moomin.

As mentioned above, I couldn't find details on how this song was produced, in what situation it was sung, or whether it was originally created for a stage play or TV show. If that's the case, I thought I might at least get some information by looking at the lyrics.
There seem to be very few sites that post the lyrics, but I was able to find them ↓

What I'm really curious about is the chorus. I compared the phrases I heard with my disastrous listening skills against the text posted on the site, and quickly checked the lyrics of the chorus.

There it is. "mumintroll". It really was saying Moomintroll.
Following that is "Nalle Puh och poesi". "poesi" means "poetry." So, what is "Nalle Puh"?

Let's ask Google Translate.

Nalle Puh → English) Winnie the Pooh

!?

“Winnie the Pooh” means, in other words... "Winnie the Pooh"? I'll try Googling "Nalle Puh" just in case.

Yeah, it's "Winnie the Pooh."
No way... Moomintroll and Pooh were co-starring (?) in a song.

However, thanks to this, I've learned a little something about this "Idyllvisa."
That is, this song was (likely) not written as a song for a Moomin work.
If it had been written for a Moomin stage play or TV program, it would be impossible for "Winnie the Pooh," which has a different author and world, to appear.

Lyrics of Idyllvisa

I tried translating the chorus. I used Google Translate, but as usual, I'm not confident.

※ I don't know how to translate "mumintro," but I tried breaking it down into "mumin" and "tro." Since "tro" can be translated as "belief," "faith," or "think" (corresponding to "belief," "faith," "think," etc. in English), I decided to interpret this "mumintro" with the nuance of "Moomin mind" or "a way of thinking like a Moomin (character)."

After checking the entire lyrics, the only part where Moomin-related words appeared was in the chorus mentioned above.

To summarize the content of the song very roughly: "The world is cruel and terrifying. But I love you. You will save me. Let's go to fairyland together."

…I felt it was a difficult song to interpret. As the title "Idyllvisa" (Idyll) suggests, one can feel a sense of beautiful love and simplicity, and I do believe it was created with that intention.
However, at the same time, am I the only one who feels an irrepressible heartache and sadness, the feeling of "living in a cruel reality" and "wanting to be happy, if only in a dream"?

Come to think of it, Tove Jansson wrote the Moomin stories during wartime, when she had lost the desire to depict hope or color. In a form of escapism, Tove drew "Moomin," a story with a happy ending. Without the memories of a happy childhood, Moominvalley could not have existed.
I do not know the purpose or intention behind the creation of "Idyllvisa." However, I felt that its lyrics are firmly connected to the world of "Moomin."
What do you think after reading these lyrics? I highly encourage you to read the full lyrics for yourself.

Supplementary note: About the lyricists

"Idyllvisa" has two lyricists: Bengt Ahlfors and Frej Lindqvist.Wikipediainformationbut both were friends and fellow playwrights and directors, and in 1963 they made their musical debut at the Lilla Teatern in Helsinki, hosted by none other than Vivica Bandler (Incidentally, "Troll i Kulisserna" was performed at the Lilla Teatern in 1958. Directed, of course, by Vivica Bandler).
Also, regarding Bengt Ahlfors, there are photos of him with "Moomin actors" Lasse Pöysti, Birgitta Ulfsson, and Elina Salo. I cannot help but feel a connection to Moomin.

Bonus

This note is very "rough." Part of it is that there is little information available, so there is little I can write, but even so, it ended up being a superficial piece. I regret that I should have spent more time gathering information and writing (I apologize for the personal note, but I have a qualification exam tomorrow. Honestly, I shouldn't be writing a note, what am I doing?).

Even so, I was surprised by the unexpected connection between "Moomin" and "Winnie the Pooh." When it comes to a collaboration between the two works, this official illustration is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Reference websites:

• "Moomin Voices Muminröster". Amazon.co.jp. https://www.amazon.co.jp/Moomin-Voices-Muminrter-Jansson/dp/B00006RZ2N, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Moomin Voices". Apple Music. https://music.apple.com/jp/album/moomin-voices/6197365, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Idyllvisa". Svensk Musik. https://www.svenskmusik.org/sv/verk/idyllvisa-86079#other, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Mumintroll - Idyllsvisa". Lyrics Translate. https://lyricstranslate.com/en/moomins-idylli-lyrics.html, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "History". New Musical "Disney's Winnie the Pooh". https://www.rkx-i.jp/musical-pooh/history.php, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Erna Tauro & Bo Andersson – Höstvisa". Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/release/2144487-Erna-Tauro-Bo-Andersson-H%C3%B6stvisa, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Anki – Idylli". Discogs. https://www.discogs.com/master/340070-Anki-Idylli, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Frej Lindqvist". Wikipedia. https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frej_Lindqvist, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Bengt Ahlfors". Wikipedia. https://sv.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengt_Ahlfors, (Accessed 2025-09-30)

• "Lilla Teatern 1958 – Troll i kulisserna". Moomin. https://www.moomin.com/sv/blogg/lilla-teatern-1958-troll-kulisserna/#3754781b, (Accessed 2025-09-30)