Philip Sparke

Prof. Googleheimer's Clarinet Polka

Little is known about the life of Prof. Armin Googleheimer. Despite local success as a musician, postman and wine-lover, his fame did not travel much outside his charming home village of Unterbingen in the Tirol. He was bornaround 1812 and died in a spectacular fondue-related accident in 1867. Apart from that, all we can say is, judging from the style of much of his dance music, one of his legs was shorter than the other! Clarinet Polka is perhapshis best-known work and has become a sort of anthem for the village of Unterbingen, where the residents now hate the piece. It has an undeniably merry feel, however, and makes an approachable work for all young bands.