“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: Piano
Item no.: 121587
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305361
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305357
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 304999
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305300
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 304995
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 431973
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 278585
for: Small wind band
Single part Keyboard [Guitar]
Item no.: 549265
for: Marching band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1668709
Polka
for: Wind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1696708
Polka
for: 7 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1696675
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1696717
Polka
for: Wind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1696709
Polka
Kurt Pascher und seinen Original Böhmerwälder Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1561042
for: Electric organ
Item no.: 128870
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 143530
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 229055
for: 2 violins, piano
Item no.: 583391
Single edition
Item no.: 586410
Konzertpolka
for: Small wind band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 676532
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part
Item no.: 1631945
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 191407
for: Percussion
Item no.: 218893
for: HH 3 4 SCHLAGZ
Item no.: 219328
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1145816
Solistische Polka für Klarinettensatz
for: 3 clarinets, concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 445454
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 293854
Polka-Potpourri
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 275550
for: Accordion
Item no.: 420581
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 419958
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Bass instrument (B-flat)
Item no.: 472633
for: THRN (BAR) KLAV
Item no.: 482780
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 487767
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 581790
Konzertmusik Fuer Blasmusik
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 556275
for: Piano
Item no.: 104019
Polkas und Walzer für Blechbläser
for: 4 horns (quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 797199
Polkas und Walzer für Blechbläser
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 trombones; accordion, percussion ad lib.tet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 796034
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
Original Pieces of Old Bairian Wind Music
for: Small wind band
Single part Clarinet 1 (B-flat)
Item no.: 209121
for: Concert Band/Harmonie/Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 959105
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958329
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