“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”.
Polka schnell, op. 214
for: 2 clarinets (B-flat), 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 horns (F), 2 trombones, percussion
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1592
op. 449 (1893)
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass [string orchestra]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1593
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1032690
Am
for: Bass guitar
Bass Tab
Item no.: 1024806
Bb
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1029007
F
for: Viola, piano
Instrumental Solo & Piano Accompaniment
Item no.: 1563454
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044337
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1046636
aus dem Jugendalbum, op. 39 (Nr. 14)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 5435
for: 4 trombones (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253840
for: 4 euphoniums
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253794
for: 4 clarinets
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254393
Original-Kompositionen
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 725763
D
for: Accordion
Instrumental Solo
Item no.: 1052342
for: 4 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253459
for: 5 saxophones
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254222
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 757240
Polka schnell für Orchester | Kritische Gesamtausgabe
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 747934
composed for a young elephant
for: Saxophon-Quartett (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 752772
for: Clarinet, Alto Saxophone
Instrumental Duet
Item no.: 1638619
Polka für Orchester - 2. Auflage
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 747955
for: 4 cellos
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253369
op. 117
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 749042
Polka française für Orchester - 2. Auflage
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 744025
for: 5 clarinets (quintet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254424
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254362
for: 4 euphoniums
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253718
composed for a young elephant
for: Saxophon-Ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 756779
composed for a young elephant
for: Orchestra
Study score
Item no.: 734214
op. 214
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 749040
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 749060
Polka für Orchester
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 747680
for: Flexible ensemble (4 voices)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254269
Polka schnell für Orchester - 2. Auflage
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 735583
composed for a young elephant
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 748169
op. 201
for: Flute, piano
Music score
Item no.: 744449
for: 4 brass instruments
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254300
for: 4 bassoons
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253424
for: 4 saxophones
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254191
for: 4 cellos
Sheet music
Item no.: 1253404
C
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1029028
for: 4 woodwinds (quartet)
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254331
composed for a young elephant
for: 2 pianos
Music score
Item no.: 748170
Polka schnell für Orchester | Kritische Gesamtausgabe
for: Orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 747966
1. Böhmische Polka "Einmal hin und einmal her"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 737936
op. 214
for: Orchestra
Salonorchester-Ergänzung (Zusatzstimmen für großes Orchester) Picc, Ob II, Klar II, Fag I, Fag II, Hn I/II, Hn III/IV, Trp II, Pos I/II, Pk
Item no.: 757242
Polka française für Orchester
for: Orchestra
Partitur und Kritischer Bericht Fassungen: AB/C
Item no.: 743097
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Piano score (conductor)
Item no.: 757241
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