“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: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 192518
for: Accordion; melody instrument (B-flat) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 220778
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 622606
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 347470
for: Male choir (TTBB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 338796
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 467714
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 623171
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1712124
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1712123
for: Brass ensemble (5 voices); accordion, percussion ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1689417
for: 3 saxophones (same tuning)
Score, set of parts, online audio
Item no.: 765503
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 863238
for: Violin, cello, piano (piano trio)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 631922
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet); percussion ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 766807
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Bass
Item no.: 1532304
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1589743
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 168436
for: Accordion
Music score, CD
Item no.: 156418
for: Wind ensemble (11 parts), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1696733
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 1696532
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683574
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683531
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683296
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683283
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683208
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683199
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683173
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683016
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682977
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682836
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682801
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682626
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682563
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682425
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1566488
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Violin or Viola & Orchestra
Sheet music
Item no.: 1308041
for: Solo for Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn, Soprano Saxophohne, Tenor Saxophone, Violin or Viola & String Quartet
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299131
for: Horn (E-flat), piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299120
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1182008
for: 2 trumpets, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958325
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 798240
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 694017
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690965
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690444
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688930
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688689
for: Brass ensemble (5 voices); 2 clarinets (B-flat) drums ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 685717
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 670346
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