“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: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1185474
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 202909
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 168430
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 365579
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 472056
for: OB (FL) KLAR FAG (BASS-KLAR)
Item no.: 334376
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 332207
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 296698
for: Ensemble (Holz)
Item no.: 1683584
for: Ensemble (Holz)
Item no.: 1683581
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683564
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683552
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683551
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683292
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683288
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683273
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683244
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683186
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683184
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683152
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683149
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683013
for: Melody instrument (C) [guitar/piano/keyboard]
Music score, CD
Item no.: 605174
for: Violin
Item no.: 467225
for: Small wind band
Set of parts
Item no.: 132461
for: Accordion
Item no.: 167974
for: 2 clarinets, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1679106
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 411677
Tick-Tock Polka
for: Violin, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1341261
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 177738
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958280
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 621670
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 462356
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1169928
for: für Violine und Klavier
Item no.: 357988
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 168757
for: Accordion
Music score, online audio
Item no.: 972426
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 166380
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 158182
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 456214
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688695
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 684760
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690254
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690245
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690183
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690179
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 689471
for: Saxophon-Quartett (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 604415
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