This is the adventurous story of one of the most distinguished musical families of the age. The story begins in Austria after the first World War, in which the Baron distinguishes himself as a submarine commander. A widower, he has five daughters and two sons, and no one to look after them; and from a neighboring Convent he obtains as Governess a young student...Maria. The Baron is expected to marry a certain Princess Yvonne, but he is so impressed with Maria that he proposes to her instead, and they are married. In the dark days of the failure of Austrian banks which inaugurate the world-wide depression, the Baron loses most of his fortune. At this time, they meet Father Wasner, who is their musical director ever since, and they start doing professionally, with amazing success, what they have previously done for their own amusement.

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Maria Augusta is sent as a young novice to look after the large family of the widowed Baron von Trapp. She brings with her little besides her guitar, and the gift of happiness. With the zest inherited from her native Tyrol, she quickly transforms the gloomy restraint of the house outside Salzburg into a place of bubbling musical activity, centered around the festivals of the Church year. The children become her close friends; and when the Baron falls in love with her she marries him with the blessing of the Convent. Maria von Trapp’s optimism and determination carries the family through many trials. When their fortunes crash, the musical training she has given the children enables them to earn their living on the concert platform. After a miraculous escape from Nazi-occupied Germany, she leads them to the start of a new and outstandingly successful life in the United States of America.