“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.: 1661589
Polka
Der Musikalische Salon Vol. 3
for: 2 violins, viola, cello; double bass ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 347785
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 181145
Spielheft für Steirische Harmonika in Griffschrift
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (notes and tablature), online audio
Item no.: 299357
Play 8 Classics with Sound-Alike CD Tracks
for: Violin
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 499722
Polka
Original Kapelle Egerland
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1652337
Polka und Marsch-Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1559326
und 2 Tuben
Partitur und Stimmen
for: 2 EUPH 2 TUBA, 4 TUBA
Sheet music
Item no.: 1668225
Herz-Schmerz-Polka für Klavier (mit Text)
for: Piano; voice ad lib.
Single edition
Item no.: 1659910
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 770547
Polka
Strauss Edition Wien / Neue Johann Strauss Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 1671430
Musik im Trio 12
for: Treble recorder, violin, cello
Score, Parts
Item no.: 781393
8 Spielstücke für Bläser
Die Musizierstunde Heft 100
for: Flexible wind ensemble (4 voices); drums ad lib.
Score, Parts
Item no.: 216752
for 6 recorders (SSAATB)
for: 6 recorders (SSAATB)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 432222
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 362519
Polka
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1192617
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1169561
"Southbrass"
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1208992
Polka für Blasorchester
Josef-Poncar-Edition
for: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 482702
Version C Tenor - Bariton, Euphonium, Posaune
for: 2 trombones (C) [tenor horns/baritone horns/euphoniums]
Performance scores
Item no.: 817761
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 610940
Polka für Blasorchester
for: Small wind band
Conductors part
Item no.: 362018
Joy Of
for: Piano 4 hands
Buch
Item no.: 417663
for: Accordion
Item no.: 210674
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 179969
Polkas und Walzer für Blechbläser
for: 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 trombones; accordion, percussion ad lib.tet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1677172
Polka (fast) after "The Bat" op. 365
'cello by Birtel 48
for: 3 cellos
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1340858
Just Brass 17
for: Trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1666859
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 797390
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 559059
für 4 Saxophone mit alternativen Stimmen für Klarinetten
for: 4 saxophones (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1664655
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 308292
Ernst Mosch & seine Original Egerländer Musikanten
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C)
Item no.: 1559077
Polka schnell
for: 4 bassoons
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215695
for: Piccolo, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 241683
für Streichquartett Wiener Melange
Sperl-Polka / Annen-Polka / Damen-Souvenier-Polka
for: 2 violins, viola, cello/double bass
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 192085
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1192704
for: Brass ensemble (7 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1690434
Blasorchester
for: 2 Alphorns in F & Concert Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 589422
Horn, Posaune und Tuba
Partitur und Stimmen
for: KAMMERMUSIK BLECHBLASINSTRUMENTE QUINTETTE
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1671066
Version Bb Tenor - Tenorhorn, Bariton, Euphonium, Posaune
for: 2 tenor horns [euphoniums]
Performance scores
Item no.: 817763
Diletto Musicale - Doblingers Reihe alter Musik
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 1677282
für 3 Holzbläser (variabel)
Musizierstunde 57
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 161736
Schnell-Polka, Galopp
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 559180
Solistische Bravourpolka
for: 1–2 flugelhorns [trumpets (B-flat)], concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 482284
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1170139
RUNDELs Kleine Blasmusik
for: Flexible wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1215796
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677773
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