The Happy Wanderer s five cheery verses and unforgettable Val-de-ri val-de-ra refrain have made it a perennial Choral standard and an audience favourite reappearing as a soundtrack in films and shows as varied as The Simpsons and Schindler s List.The Happy Wanderer sounds so typical of German folk music that many people assume it is a traditional song by the famous composer Anonymous . However the song was written shortly after World War II by Friedrich-Wilhelm Möller. His sister conducted a children s choir made up of war orphans the Obernkirchen Children s Choir who sang it to win the Llangollen InternationalMusical Eisteddfodd in 1953. The Happy Wanderer waspropelled into the UK singles chart and the choir into an international performing career.
