“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”.
Walzer, Märsche, Polkas, Ragtimes aus dem Giftschrank der Orgelliteratur
Musik zum Schmunzeln
for: Organ
Music score
Item no.: 636077
Blasmusik
for: BLM TRP POS
Set of parts
Item no.: 393500
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 684824
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1701901
for: Diatonic accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 220586
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 475101
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1701779
Polka
Die kleine Egerländer-Besetzung
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), accordion, percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1167599
Die kleine Egerländer-Besetzung
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), accordion, percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1168989
Polka
Die kleine Egerländer-Besetzung
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), accordion, percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1163927
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 289043
for: 4 Blockflöten (SSAA) und Klavier
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 355208
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 154087
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 261635
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 944894
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1169811
"Southbrass"
Polka
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1208991
Polka
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1192628
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Score, Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 363628
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 226600
Version Bb - Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Clarinet
for: 2 trumpets [flugelhorns/ tenorhorns/ clarinets]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 817762
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 637428
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1703542
for: Trombone/Baritone/Euphonium
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 958725
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 188539
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 280073
for: Voice, small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 634471
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958055
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958012
for: Bassoon / Trombone / Baritone
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 957811
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 374630
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958845
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958165
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 314988
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1677624
Solopolka
for: Trumpet, concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1672113
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1683218
Solo für Alphorn für kleine Besetzung
Edition Blasmusik vom "Kleinsten"
for: Alphorn (solo), 3 trumpets, baritone, tuba, percussion
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1673068
(Jany Polka)
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1684806
Polka mit Text des Alpenlandquintetts
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1690482
Polka als Solo für 3 Trompeten
for: 3 trumpets, concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1696794
Polka
Ernst Mosch und seine Original Egerländler Musikanten
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1559489
Polka
for: Concert band
Score (C)
Item no.: 1169757
for: 4 clarinets
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1664585
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1632267
Polka–Mazurka op. 330
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1632402
for: Concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 1639394
Polka
Ernst Mosch & seine Original Egerländer Musikanten
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1559966
There is a separate Stretta website for the country Worldwide. If your order is to be delivered to this country, you can switch, so that delivery times and shipping conditions are displayed correctly. Your shopping cart and your customer account will remain the same.
switch to Stretta Music Worldwidestay on Stretta Music Denmark