“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”.
op. 201
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 456214
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 202909
Morceaux Tres Faciles En Grosses Notes Pour Piano
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 411677
Einzelausgabe
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 410785
for: Big band [band/salon orchestra]
Item no.: 410617
mit Saxophon- und Schweizer Stimmen – aus der ZDF-Sendung "Lustige Musikanten"
Robert Payer und seine Original-Burgenkapelle
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 111268
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 168430
for: Zither (5 chords)
Backing sheet
Item no.: 151615
EMB Leggiero
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 168757
komponiert für einen jungen Elefanten
for: Saxophon-Quartett (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 604415
Marschpolka
for: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 445467
für Blasorchester
for: Small wind band
Set of parts
Item no.: 132461
Akkordeon
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 136583
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562891
Am Schlossberg
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562890
Marsch–Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562883
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1562772
Bravour–Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562619
Polka
7er-Besetzung/Kleine Besetzung
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562601
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562127
Böhmische Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1562012
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1562000
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560884
Polka
for: Small wind band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1019969
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1012993
Polka
Deine Blasmusik Edition
Ausgabe für 7er-Besetzung/ kleine Blasmusikbesetzung
for: Flexible ensemble
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 778985
I 7 / 12
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 158182
Heft 1, 30 kleine Spiel- u. Übungsstücke für den Anfang.
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, guitar
Item no.: 283091
for: Violin
Item no.: 467225
Die Musizierstunde~Spiel In Kleinen Gruppen 155
for: OB (FL) KLAR FAG (BASS-KLAR)
Item no.: 334376
F
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1044337
Polka schnell op. 228
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632409
C
for: Piano
Piano Solo
Item no.: 1046636
Polka
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 472125
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1683217
Polka
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 447013
Polka schnell
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 670493
(Es lebe der Ungar)
Schnellpolka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 1615990
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958363
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958280
for: Clarinet, concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1558248
Keyboard Ensemble Series
for: 2 pianos 8 hands
Item no.: 432508
Brass Band
for: Bass Solo or Bass Section & Brass Band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595094
2 Alphorns in Gb / Sol bémol
for: 2 Alphorns in Gb & Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 591449
Muzika Ensemble Music
for: Flexible ensemble
Score, Parts
Item no.: 331381
"Southbrass"
Polka
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1208972
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 472056
Guitar, Bass Guitar & Drums optional
for: 4 trumpets, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 598592