“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: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 130007
for: Voice, piano [accordion]
Single edition
Item no.: 338280
for: Schrammel quartet (2 violins, clarinet in g [harmonica], double guitar)
Item no.: 309886
for: Flexible ensemble
Item no.: 1566648
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 668853
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958737
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 957878
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 957654
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1566502
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958012
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 635238
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1562780
for: Schwyzerörgeli
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 265818
for: Diatonic accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 220586
Der Musikalische Salon 7
for: 2 violins, viola, cello; double bass ad lib.
Score, part
Item no.: 365385
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 491995
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 104022
for: Accordion orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 632942
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 102367
for: Accordion
Item no.: 102242
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 193701
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (notes and tablature), online audio (app)
Item no.: 457247
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 261635
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 224173
Waltzes, Polkas and Marches by Strauss and Others
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 795882
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Brass Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595938
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595691
for: 3 cornets, brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595088
for: 4 brass instruments
Sheet music
Item no.: 597964
for: Alphorn (F), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 599578
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 592741
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286586
for: Bass trombone, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286581
for: Tuba (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286578
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1286576
for: Tuba (B-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298753
for: Flute, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299130
for: 4 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310091
for: 4 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310057
for: 4 cellos
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310003
for: 4 alto saxophones, piano [keyboard]
Sheet music
Item no.: 1313561
for: 3 flutes, piano [keyboard]
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 1312842
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 5435
for: 4 Blockflöten (SSAA) und Klavier
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 355208
for: Accordion
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 1105791
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1714862
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 280073
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 188539