“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: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 677770
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 482911
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
Kompletter Satz Bläser- und Schlagzeugstimmen
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 677771
for: Accordion; voice ad lib.
Single edition
Item no.: 102009
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256606
pour 2 flutes piccolos et piano
Collection Jean-Louis Beaumadier
for: 2 piccolos, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 605115
Belwin Classic Library
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 403821
for: 2 clarinets, piano
Klavierpartitur, 2 Solostimmen
Item no.: 443707
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (tablature), online audio (app)
Item no.: 586865
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 218197
for: Accordion
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 373110
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 770575
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 379456
for: 7 brass winds
Set of parts
Item no.: 817679
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 190665
for: Piano
Item no.: 307231
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 217026
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 183669
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 179091
for: Flute
Item no.: 549242
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 185983
Volksweise
Aufg'spielt zum Volkstanz 5
for: Folk music band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 577630
6er Blech PLUS
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 949041
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 130473
for: 2 clarinets (B-flat), 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 horns (F), 2 trombones, percussion
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1592
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 364735
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 170817
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 288332
Das Akkordeon Duo
for: 2 accordions (duet)
Music score
Item no.: 181173
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 224676
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299126
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688713
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 183668
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 662484
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1566676
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (notes and tablature), CD
Item no.: 697134
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 456928
for: Percussion
Item no.: 549264
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 220585
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 261776
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688932
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 3237
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 275244
for: Piano 6 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 137998
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass [string orchestra]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1593
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690589
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 657244
for two Clarinets in Bb and Piano
for: 2 clarinets, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 685019
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