“To dance is human, to polka is divine” K.D. Lang, Canadian Singer-Songwriter
If you think that the polka is originally a Polish dance, then you are way off! This popular dance is one of the cultural treasures of another small middle European country. If you would like to know more about the origins of this Czech dance, then browse our sheet music & scores, and explore all the marvellous Polkas Stretta has to offer!
It is no longer known exactly where and when the polka came to be, but from the early 19th century the predecessor of the polka, the “Nimra”, was becoming very popular. The next development was the “Maděra”, which was then renamed to the “Půlka”, which was later renamed the Polka.
The polka was already well known around Europe, and by the 1840s, and it had become one of the favourite dances in the courts of Vienna. Johann Strauss I was also fascinated by the polka in Prague, and subsequently composed several polkas himself. The polka was also very popular with the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana, who composed polkas for piano, and also used them in his symphonic and operatic works including Vltava and The Bartered Bride.
Like many other folk dances, the polka found its way into the ballets of the 19th century, in the form of the “Polka Hongroise” or “French Polka”, particularly in works by Léo Delibes. In Vienna the “Polka Schnell” or “Quick Polka” was also popular for a long time, often penned by Johann Strauss II.
One of the most famous polka melodies, which has travelled the world in many different versions, is Jaromír Vejvoda’s “Škoda lásky” known also as “Rosamunde” or “The Beer Barrel Polka”.
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 125669
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 171404
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1589061
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1558311
(Polka)
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 559464
Polka
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1018905
Solistische Polka für Tenorhorn oder Bariton und Blasorchester
for: Tenor horn [baritone], small wind band
Solo part (C/B-flat)
Item no.: 363291
Polka française
Strauss Edition Wien/ Neue Johann Strauss Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 695291
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 211451
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2, 4
Item no.: 220583
for: KLAR 2 VL VA VC (KB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 431827
Original Pieces of Old Bairian Wind Music
for: Small wind band
Single part Clarinet 1 (B-flat)
Item no.: 209121
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305315
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305249
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 957827
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 959105
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958329
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 959088
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958751
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958652
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 957994
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 300134
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Trombone 2 in C (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226504
Polka schnell nach Motiven der Operette Die Fledermaus JSGA I/23/10op. 365
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 655364
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 4
Item no.: 219793
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 4, Bass instrument
Item no.: 219788
Polka schnell
Single part Bass instrument 1
Item no.: 578898
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 242356
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 1
Item no.: 242354
op. 449
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 646557
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion solo
Item no.: 220582
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Violin obligato
Item no.: 757246
for: Concert band
Single part Clarinet 2 (B-flat)
Item no.: 771542
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672685
Single part Zither 1
Item no.: 185381
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 222442
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 222235
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Cello
Item no.: 299053
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 639037
for: Concert band
Single part Clarinet (E-flat)
Item no.: 771558
for: Concert band
Single part Flugelhorn 2
Item no.: 771540
for: Concert band
Part 2 in F (horn)
Item no.: 771525
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 219792
Single part Flute 1
Item no.: 582397
Single part Zither 2
Item no.: 369189
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 757245
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Viola
Item no.: 757244
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