The Happy Wanderer - The Obernkirchen Childrens Choir

The Happy wanderer 1954 (German)
Video of Lake St Clair,Tasmania, Australia

The Obernkirchen Children's Choir, from Obernkirchen in North Germany, where it is known as Schaumburger Marchensanger, was founded in 1949 by Edith Moller. In 1953 BBC Radio aired the choir's winning performance, performing "The Happy Wanderer" at Llangollen International Eisteddfod, an annual arts festival in North Wales. The event was witnessed by the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas who described the girls as "Pigtailed Angels" and the broadcast turned the cheerful song into the great sing-along of the year. It was the best-selling sheet music in 1954 in the UK.

The then unknown German Folk song was actually an original song written by Edith Moller's brother Friedrich-Wilhelm Moller, for the competition.
The original German title was "Mein Vater war ein Wandersmann." The English lyrics were written by Antonia Rudge and it became a staple of many a scouting jamboree.
The song made the choir an international phenomenon and they were invited to sing all round the world including appearing twice on The Ed Sullivan Show. The choir was also featured in a 1955 German musical comedy film named after the song. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for all above)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• happy
• wanderer
• obernkirchen
• childrens
• choir
• Schaumburger
• Marchensanger
• Mein
• Vater
• war
• ein
• Wandersmann

[Spreemusik2]

Sorry! The translator wasn't right. I mean the City Bückeburg and not bending Castle.

[janschro]

You translation is very good Spreemusik2 ,thanks for the story of how the choir came to the attention of the rest of world .What angelic singers they were.

[MrPlainsman]

Brings back memories from a time when things were simple and pure!

[BelleVue1969]

Remember,quite clearly, hearing this as a 3yr old and Mam singing it regularly.Also a favourite on coach day trips from school in late 50s.

Emotional and heartwarming memories!

Million thanks and 5* for posting.

[Seiryuudo]

@psviking1 ...and so he said those famous words: "ICH BIN EIN KRAPFEN!"

[Seiryuudo]

huh... I came hear while searching for "Love is war 合唱"

And weird enough, I used to live 5 years in Obernkirchen!

[Sweetmother6448]

I can remember singing this in Grade School

[fwengsolutions]

@MrPlainsman I read this sentiment so often in comment below old-time music of all sorts. Think about what you said! It was written in 1948 just after the most devstating world war we have ever seen, in Germany when that country was still partly in ruins and reeling from the horrors of that war. Was it simple and pure to attempt to wipe out an ethnic minority? Was it simple and pure to obliterate German cities when their defeat was already certain?

[FuckUtube4Life2010]

i like barney's version better!

[katesnake]

Und schwenke ich meinen Hut zurück!

Viele Grüsse aus England nach Deustchland von ein Englander!

[psviking1]

@isuckaman Ich bin Berliner= I am a Berliner. BUT Ich bin EIN Berliner= I am a Doughnut(Donut), That is what JFK said! (Ich bin ein berliner)

[bookwyrmsrus]

Thanks for this lovely video in its original German. I grew up with my grandmother playing an English version made for children. This was my favorite, and I still love it today. Love to sing it while hiking! (Now to learn the German!) Thanks also for the story of the song--I wasn't born when the girls won the prize or when it was popular, but it's still a terrific song! :o)

[maccas1329]

haha i never knew this song was called happy wanderer :D i love it!