“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”.
Melodie in Bb
for: Melodie in Bb
Item no.: 645247
Choir part Bass 1,2
Item no.: 278130
for: TENOR 1 2 KLAV
Item no.: 278129
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677773
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677772
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Double bass (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677776
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Viola (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677774
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 677775
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 373874
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 410657
aus dem Jugendalbum, op. 39 (Nr. 14)
for: Piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 5435
for: Small wind band
Conductors part
Item no.: 313025
Single part Flute 1
Item no.: 582397
Tenor/Bass
for: TENOR BASS / GCH
ChorSolo part(s)
Item no.: 273503
Single part Alto saxophone 1
Item no.: 473650
Sopran/Alt
ChorSolo part(s)
Item no.: 273502
Polka für Blaskapelle
for: Small wind band
Flugelhorn 1 in Bb (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1556380
Polka für Blasorchester
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 648045
Choir part Tenor 2
Item no.: 328175
Choir part Tenor 1
Item no.: 328174
Single part 2
Item no.: 328177
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 5, Bass instrument
Item no.: 242357
Single part Bass instrument 1
Item no.: 328176
Solistische Polka für Tenorhorn oder Bariton und Blasorchester
for: Tenor horn [baritone], small wind band
Solo part (C/B-flat)
Item no.: 363291
for: Baritone horn (B-flat)
Item no.: 293673
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 195742
for: Small wind band
Single part Alto saxophone 1
Item no.: 368451
Schnell-Polka, Galopp
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1543928
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 159155
for: AKK 5
Single part
Item no.: 102368
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2
Item no.: 159154
1. Böhmische Polka "Einmal hin und einmal her"
for: Mixed choir (SATB) a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 737936
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 242356
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 1
Item no.: 242354
Polka
for: Small wind band
Clarinet 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 472637
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Trombone 3 (B-flat)
Item no.: 1657807
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Clarinet 3
Item no.: 472638
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet 2
Item no.: 472643
Marsch und Polka
mit Saxophon- und Schweizer Stimmen
Robert Payer und seine Original-Burgenland-Kapelle
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C)
Item no.: 373283
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 294365
Single part Bass instrument 1 (C)
Item no.: 136236
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2
Item no.: 242355
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Trombone 3 (B-flat)
Item no.: 585890
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Tenor Saxophone 1
Item no.: 585889
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 472642
Single part Bass instrument 2 (C)
Item no.: 134841
Single part (Trombone solo)
Item no.: 147607
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Bass instrument (B-flat)
Item no.: 472633
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