A Collection of "Moomin Songs" Created by Tove Jansson: Sheet Music and Songbooks

Introduction

In this article, I would like to cover sheet music and songbooks for Moomin songs that Tove Jansson illustrated or wrote lyrics for.
*Regarding records and CDs, they are summarized below, so I would appreciate it if you could read them as well.

• Many of the sheet music and songbooks listed below are currently extremely difficult to obtain. While I have referenced Finnish and Swedish book databases as well as "Visor från Mumindalen" mentioned later, please understand in advance that this information is strictly within the scope of my own personal research.

• The titles in <> appended below the song names are those used when they were included in "Visor från Mumindalen".

• Unless otherwise noted, the lyrics were written by Tove Jansson.

• Only sheet music and songbooks with "Tove Jansson" or "Moomin" as the theme are listed.

Balen i Mumindalen (The Ball in Moominvalley) / Muumilaakson kevätjuhla

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Balen i Mumintrollen} & \\ \hline \hline
Year of release: 1956 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson, Laila Järvinen}(Translation) \\ \hline
　　　　Music: \text{Robert Farnon} \\ \hline
Pages: 4 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{R. E. Westerlund} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A promotional song composed to commemorate the second anniversary of the "Moomin Comics" which began serialization in the "Evening News" in 1954.

• The composer is not Erna Tauro, who frequently teamed up with Jansson to create many Moomin songs, but rather the British composer and conductor Robert Farnon. Jansson wrote the lyrics after listening to the audio source that was sent to her.

• It was first performed on July 8, 1956, on BBC television by Robert Farnon's orchestra.

• It was translated into Finnish by Laila Järvinen and titled "Muumilaakson kevätjuhla (Moominvalley Spring Festival)".

• In 1956, a music book illustrated by Jansson herself was published by R. E. Westerlund in Helsinki.

• From the URL listed on the official Moomin website, you can listen to the instrumental version of this song. Also, you can listen to the version sung by Maynie Sirén on music streaming services.

  • Spotify ↓

Sex Muminsånger

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Sex Muminsånger} & \\ \hline \hline
Year of release: 1961 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Pages: 11 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Hans Busch musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A book collecting 6 songs from the stage play "Troll i kulisserna (Troll in the Wings)".

• The recorded songs are the same as the record "Mumintrollen" released the previous year. However, the titles of some songs are different.

• In addition to the Moomintroll mentioned above, Little My is also depicted on the cover.

  • Reference ↓

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3740247115988162&id=1112643455415221&set=a.1122514631094770

• List of Songs

$$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|} \hline
Title & English Translation \\ \hline \hline
\text{Misans klagolåt} & Misa's Lament \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys visa} & Little My's Song \\ \hline
\text{Fru Filfjonks sång} & Mrs. Fillyjonk's Song \\ \hline
\text{Teaterråttan Emmas visdomsord} & Theater Rat Emma's Words of Wisdom \\ \hline
\text{Mumintrollets visa} & Moomintroll's Song \\ \hline
\text{Slutsång} & Closing Song \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

Mumintrollen nio nya sånger

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Mumintrollen nio nya sånger} \\ \hline \hline
Year of release: 1969\\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson, Lars Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Number of pages: 18 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Hans Busch musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A songbook containing 9 songs that first appeared in the 1969 TV program "Mumintrollet".

• Some of the songs are included on the 1969 record "Mumintrollen". However, some song titles differ.

• List of Songs

$$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|} \hline
Title & English Translation \\ \hline \hline
\text{Si och så visan} & This and That Song \\ \hline
\text{Kärlekens rosor} & Roses of Love \\ \hline
\text{Varje kryp} & Every Little Creature \\ \hline
\text{Det är ganska skönt **} & It's Quite Nice \\ \hline
\text{Lag och rätt **} & Law and Order \\ \hline
\text{Tango **} & Tango \\ \hline
\text{Rådd-djurets visa **} & Muddler's Song \\ \hline
\text{Skogen susar *} & The Forest Whispers \\ \hline
\text{Paradmarschen *} & Parade March \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

$$
\begin{array}{l} \
* ...Instrumental & \\
** ...Lyrics: \text{Tove & Lars Jansson} & \\
\end{array}
$$

Mumin-visor ur Julkalendern "Trollvinter"

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Mumintrollen nio nya sånger} \\ \hline \hline
Year of release: 1980\\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson, Lars Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Number of pages: 11 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Hans Busch musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A songbook containing songs from the 1973 TV program "Mumindalen".

• The cover illustration was later used for a poster for goods at the Moomin Museum in Finland.

• List of Songs

$$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|} \hline
Title & English Translation \\ \hline \hline
\text{Knyttenas julsång} & Christmas Song of the Knytt \\
\text{< Julsång för knytt >} & <Christmas Song for the Knytt> \\ \hline
\text{Har du mig här igen} & Are You Here With Me Again \\ \hline
\text{Har du gjort en present? *} & Have You Prepared a Present? \\
\text{< Julvisa >} & <Christmas Song> \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vintervisa} & Too-Ticky's Winter Song \\ \hline
\text{Mys äppelvisa **} & My's Apple Song \\ \hline
\text{Sorgesång om den döda ekorren} & Lament for the Dead Squirrel \\
\text{< Sången om den döda ekorren >} & <Song of the Dead Squirrel> \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys egen visa - efter ett åskväder} & Little My's Own Song - After a Thunderstorm \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vårsång} & Too-Ticky's Spring Song \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys sång till vattentunnan} & Little My's Song to the Water Barrel \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

$$
\begin{array}{l} \
* …Lyrics: \text{Tove & Lars Jansson} & \\
** …Lyrics: \text{Lars Jansson} & \\
\end{array}
$$

Snusmumrikens vårvisa (Snufkin's Spring Song)

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Snusmumrikens vårvisa} & \\ \hline \hline
Year of Publication: 1982 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Number of Pages: 2 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Hans Busch musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• Single song release.

• The cover illustration is used as the design for the 2021 and 2024 ARABIA "Moomin Day" mugs.

Till min älskade fru (To My Beloved Wife)

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Till min älskade fru} & \\ \hline \hline
Year of Publication: 1993 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Number of Pages: 2 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Hans Busch musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• Single song release.

• Also known as "Muminpappans visa". As the name suggests, it is a song featuring Moominpappa as the main character.

• While records exist in Swedish book databases of it being published as sheet music, it was listed as an "unpublished (tidigare opublicerad)" song when included in "Visor från Mumindalen" (mentioned later), and the cover illustration is unknown. It is possible it was published after "Visor från Mumindalen" (both are 1993 works). Further investigation required.

Visor från Mumindalen

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Visor från Mumindalen} & \\ \hline \hline
Year of Publication: 1993 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson, Lars Jansson} \\
　　　　Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Number of Pages: 44 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Schildt, Bonniers} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A compendium songbook from Jansson's lifetime that includes previously released Moomin songs, as well as new songs and songs quoted from the original Moomin novels. It also allows one to see (though not all) the cover illustrations of past sheet music and songbooks.

• Originally, all songs were intended to be set to music by Erna Tauro, but due to Tauro's passing that same year, some songs remain unfinished.

  • Many of the unfinished works were re-composed by Mika Pohjola for the 2003 CD "Moomin Voices".

• A Finnish version was also published. The title is "Muumilaakson laulukirja".

• List of songs (also briefly noting the first songbook appearance for each)

$$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|} \hline
Title & Japanese Translation & First Songbook \\ \hline \hline
\text{Mumintrollets visa} & Moomintroll's Song & \text{SM} \\ \hline
\text{Muminpappans visa} & Moominpappa's Song & \text{TMÄF?} \\ \hline
\text{Muminmammans visa ◆} & Moominmamma's Song & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys visa} & Little My's Song & \text{SM} \\ \hline
\text{Stora äppelsången ◆} & The Big Apple Song & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Har du Mig här igen} & See You Here Again & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Misans klagolåt} & Misa's Lament & \text{SM} \\ \hline
\text{Råddjurets visa *} & The Muddler's Song & \text{NNS} \\ \hline
\text{Teaterråttan Emmas visdomsord} & Theater Rat Emma's Words of Wisdom & \text{SM}\\ \hline
\text{Snusmumrikens vårvisa} & Snufkin's Spring Song & \text{SV} \\ \hline
\text{Skruttets visa ◆} & The Creature's Song & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Mårrans klagosång ◆} & The Groke's Lament & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Fru Filfjonks sång} & Mrs. Fillyjonk's Song & \text{SM} \\ \hline
\text{Sången om den döda ekorren} & Song About the Dead Squirrel & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vintervisa} & Too-Ticky's Winter Song & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Alla små djur slår rosett på sin svans ◆} & All Little Creatures Tie Ribbons on Their Tails & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Villerivallaresången ◆} & The Topsy-Turvy Song & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Sov Mina ungar ◆} & Sleep My Little Ones & \text{★} \\ \hline
\text{Julvisa *} & Christmas Song & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Julsång för knytt} & Christmas Song for Creeps & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vårsång} & Too-Ticky's Spring Song & \text{MV} \\ \hline
\text{Slutsång} & Closing Song & \text{SM} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

$$
\begin{array}{l} \
\text{SM }=\text{ "Sex Muminsånger"} \\
\text{NNS} =\text{ "Mumintrollen nio nya sånger"} \\
\text{MV } =\text{ "Mumin-visor"} \\
\text{SV} =\text{ "Snusmumrikens vårvisa"} \\
\text{TMÄF?} =\text{ "Till min älskade fru"?} & \\
\text{★} = Newly included song \\
\end{array}
$$

$$
\begin{array}{l} \
* ...Lyrics: \text{Tove & Lars Jansson} & \\
◆ ...No sheet music due to being incomplete \\
\end{array}
$$

Mumintrollen samlade originalsånger (Moomintroll's Collected Original Songs)

$$
\begin{array}{|lll|} \hline
\textbf{Visor från Mumindalen} & \\ \hline \hline
Publication Year: 2010 \\ \hline
Author: Lyrics: \text{Tove Jansson, Lars Jansson} \\
Music: \text{Erna Tauro} \\ \hline
Pages: 72 \\ \hline
Publisher: \text{Gehrmans Musikförlag} \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

• A songbook containing songs with lyrics by Tove and Lars Jansson and music by Erna Tauro.

• Also includes non-Moomin songs

• List of songs

$$
\begin{array}{|l|l|l|} \hline
Title & Japanese Translation \\ \hline \hline
\text{Det är ganska skönt} & Quite Lovely \\ \hline
\text{Fru Fillifjonks sång} & Mrs. Fillyjonk's Song \\ \hline
\text{Har du gjort en present **} & Have You Prepared a Gift? \\
\text{< Julvisa >} & <Christmas Song> \\ \hline
\text{Har du mig här igen} & See You Here Again \\ \hline
\text{Höstvisa} & Autumn Song \\ \hline
\text{Kaksin (Tillsammans)} & Together \\ \hline
\text{Knyttenas julsång} & Creep's Christmas Song \\
\text{< Julsång för knytt >} & <Christmas Song for Creeps> \\ \hline
\text{Kärlekens rosor} & Roses of Love \\ \hline
\text{Lag och rätt} & Law and Order \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys egen visa} & Little My's Own Song \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys sång till vattentunnan} & Little My's Song to the Water Barrel \\ \hline
\text{Lilla Mys visa} & Little My's Song \\ \hline
\text{Misans klagolåt} & Misa's Lament \\ \hline
\text{Misans tango} & Misa's Tango \\ \hline
\text{Mumintrollets visa} & Moomintroll's Song \\ \hline
\text{Mys äppelvisa ***} & My's Apple Song \\ \hline
\text{Paradmarschen *} & Parade March \\ \hline
\text{Rådd-djurets visa **} & The Muddler's Song \\ \hline
\text{Si och så visan} & This and That Song \\ \hline
\text{Skogen susar *} & The Forest Whispers \\ \hline
\text{Slutsång} & Closing Song \\ \hline
\text{Snusmumrikens visa} & Snufkin's Song \\ \hline
\text{Sorgesång om den döda ekorren} & Mourning Song for the Dead Squirrel \\
\text{< Sången om den döda ekorren >} & <Song About the Dead Squirrel> \\ \hline
\text{Teaterråttan Emmas visdomsord} & Theater Rat Emma's Words of Wisdom \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vintervisa} & Too-Ticky's Winter Song \\ \hline
\text{Tootickis vårsång} & Too-Ticky's Spring Song \\ \hline
\text{Varje kryp} & Every Creep \\ \hline
\end{array}
$$

$$
\begin{array}{l} \
* ...Instrumental & \\
** ...Lyrics: \text{Tove & Lars Jansson} & \\
*** ...Lyrics: \text{Lars Jansson} & \\
\end{array}
$$

That is all. I plan to update this as needed if there are any supplements or additions.

References and websites below:

• Tove Jansson, Lars Jansson, Erna Tauro. Visor från Mumindalen. Schildts, 1993, 44p.

• “Den första muminlåten skapades som ett försäljningsknep – lyssna på det lustiga stycket!”. Moomin. 2020-07-02. https://www.moomin.com/sv/blogg/den-forsta-muminlaten-skapades-som-ett-forsaljningsknep-lyssna-pa-det-lustiga-stycket/#e98de646, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Muumilaakson kevätjuhla = Balen i Mumindalen”. Finna. https://www.finna.fi/Record/piki.128258, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Sex Muminsånger”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/1185186?vw=full, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Mumintrollen [Musiktryck] 9 nya sånger / text: Tove och Lars Jansson ; musik: Erna Tauro.”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/1185185, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Mumintrollen : 9 nya sånger”. Finna. https://www.finna.fi/Record/eepos.1972203, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Mumin-visor”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/970790?vw=full, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Mumin-visor : ur Julkalendern "Trollvinter"”. Finna. https://www.finna.fi/Record/jakobstad.302075, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Snusmumrikens vårvisa”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/9696853?vw=full, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• Hiroko Yokokawa, Satsuki Uchiyama, Mayumi Tomihara. Moomin Exhibition: THE ART AND THE STORY. Asahi Shimbun, 2019, 311p.

• “Äntligen – här är Arabias nya mugg för Mumindagen”. Mumin. 2021-06-09. https://www.moomin.com/sv/blogg/mumindag-mugg-2021/#e98de646, (accessed 2025-07-28).

• “Ett löfte om vårens ankomst – den nya Mumindagsmuggen”. Mumin. 2021-06-04. https://www.moomin.com/sv/blogg/mumindagsmugg-2024/#e98de646, (accessed 2025-07-28).

• “Till min älskade fru”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/18616813, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Visor från Mumindalen”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/7844845, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Visor från Mumindalen”. Libris. https://libris.kb.se/bib/7286230, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• "Muumilaakson Laulukirja". booky.fi. https://www.booky.fi/tuote/tove_jansson/muumilaakson_laulukirja/9789510195079?srsltid=AfmBOoou5ea53IlFhSQKv6Tqud6ckdXUBUPah51exbUhZ1tQml0yX9JE, (accessed 2025-07-29).

• “Mumintrollen”. Barnensmusikbutik. https://barnensmusikbutik.se/produkt/mumintrollen/, (accessed 2025-07-30).

• “Mumintrollen : samlade originalsånger”. Adlibris. https://www.adlibris.com/sv/bok/mumintrollen-samlade-originalsanger-9789177483038, (accessed 2025-07-30).