Matthias Scheichelroither is a poor but always cheerful, or rather, jolly farmer. He has grand plans for his son Heini, nicknamed "Heinerle": He intends for him to one day become a trained academic, a doctor. To achieve this, the old man scrims and saves to give Heinerle a perfect education. But Heini has other plans: Instead of focusing on his studies, he is drawn to music. With the help of Vivian Harrison, a wealthy American woman who is in love with him, he finally manages to organize his first concert as a composer.