“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”.
für 5-stg kleine Blasmusik, Akkordeon und Schlagzeug ad lib.
RUNDELs Kleine Blasmusik (Quintett +)
for: Flexible wind ensemble (5 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560195
Walzer
Guido Henn und seine Goldene Blasmusik
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1563123
Hasicská polka
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1557365
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560182
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632484
Polka schnell op. 324
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1639398
2 Polkas
Böhmische Blasmusik
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1559587
Polka
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 954593
Boehmische Blasmusik
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 276690
Learning With Fun
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 491995
Polka für Blasorchester
Josef-Poncar-Edition
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 553878
for: POS-B 3 (THRN)
Item no.: 549259
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 303486
(Wenn wir froh mit Pferd und Wagen...)
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 188539
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 184741
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1557144
Bystročická-Polka
Mährische Polka
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 578321
Polka und Walzer
mit Saxophon- und Schweizer Stimmen
Robert Payer und seine Original-Burgenkapelle
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 559368
Elmar Wolf
Die neuen Egerländer
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 244266
Polka für Blasorchester
Josef-Poncar-Edition
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 483763
mit Saxophon- und Schweizer Stimmen
Robert Payer und seine Original-Burgenkapelle
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 111270
for: Combo
Item no.: 107135
Blasmusik
for: BLM TRP POS
Set of parts
Item no.: 393500
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632274
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1558251
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1563000
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562892
Polka
7er-Besetzung
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1562780
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562620
Für eine große Liebe
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562484
Schönfeld-Marsch/Zäpperl-Polka
Band 9
Wienerisch für Streichquartett
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 550330
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1690487
Polka
for: Woodwind ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1013006
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 302903
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 468386
for: Trombone, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1559310
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 670494
(from the ballet Sylvia)
Highland/Etling Strictly Strings
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 944894
Polka
mit Text-/Gesangsstimmen
Ernst Mosch und seine Original Egerländer Musikanten
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 607031
Verlagskopie
for: Salon orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 389161
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Voice, small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 634471
Klassik
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 314988
Chester Woodwind Series
for: Clarinet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 280073
10 stilechte Polkas von waschechten Polka-Experten
for: Accordion
Music score, online playback
Item no.: 1105791
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958165
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958055
Hymnen und Choräle
for: Bassoon / Trombone / Baritone
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 957811
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 374630