“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
BOVACO Classic CB
for: Concert band
Conductors part
Item no.: 1069359
Walter Grechenig und seine Fegerländer
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1560095
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1631944
Polka
BOVACO Classic CB
for: Trumpet [cornet], concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1022498
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Tenor
Item no.: 1532307
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Alto
Item no.: 1532305
Schnell-Polka, Galopp
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1543928
Böhmische Polka
Kurt Pascher und seine Original Böhmerwälder Musikanten
Edition Bergsee
for: Small wind band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1557282
Walzer und Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 331895
for: Small wind band
Set of parts
Item no.: 295728
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 604665
for: Salon orchestra
Item no.: 209692
for: Combo
Item no.: 560642
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 458887
G'schichten vom gold'nen Prag
for: Voice, piano
Single edition
Item no.: 102902
Seiferts Akkordeon-Musik
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 102682
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Clarinet 3
Item no.: 472638
for: Saxophone, piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 463988
Goldene Zither 567
for: Zither
Item no.: 488002
Goldene Zither 561
for: Zither
Item no.: 191302
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 162632
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 153812
for: Accordion
Set of parts
Item no.: 211499
for: Accordion orchestra
Item no.: 222438
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 222237
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 218804
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 218802
for: Harp
Item no.: 339166
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 104062
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 140742
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 430615
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 125687
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 127122
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 344348
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 127321
Polka aus dem Repertoire der Blaskapelle "Die Jungen Böhmischen" unter der Leitung von Frank Metzger.
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 608488
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198168
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1562485
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: 4 brass instruments
Single part tenor horn (in C)
Item no.: 1664640
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Small wind band
Single part baritone horn [trombone] (C)
Item no.: 1657927
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
Trompete (ad lib)
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet (B-flat)
Item no.: 1657887
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958727
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert Band/Harmonie and 3 Baritones/Euphoniums
Score
Item no.: 958634
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958382