“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: Salon orchestra
Single part Violin 2
Item no.: 299050
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 265812
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 265811
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 645270
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 639134
for: Concert band
Single part Trombone 1 (B-flat, Treble Clef)
Item no.: 771550
Single part Zither 2
Item no.: 363490
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2
Item no.: 219791
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2
Item no.: 219786
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3, 4
Item no.: 219372
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 1
Item no.: 219132
for: Accordion orchestra
Single parts 1, 2 (Accordion)
Item no.: 219129
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3, Electronium
Item no.: 220504
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Tenor Saxophone 1
Item no.: 585889
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Tuba in E-flat - violin clef (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226496
im James Last Happy Sound
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1596263
for: Concert band
Single part Baritone saxophone
Item no.: 771556
for: Concert band
Single part Trombone 2 (C)
Item no.: 771532
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Double bass
Item no.: 757243
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 219787
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Tuba in B-flat - treble clef (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226498
for: Concert band
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 771530
op. 214
for: Salon orchestra
Single part Violin 1
Item no.: 757247
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 1 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 643558
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 639129
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3
Item no.: 159155
for: Symphonic orchestra
Cello (orchestral part)
Item no.: 638366
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3, 4 (Bass instrument)
Item no.: 219130
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3, 4
Item no.: 218892
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 4, Bass instrument
Item no.: 218803
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Trombone 2 in B-flat (treble clef) (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226500
Blasorchester Noten / Concert Band
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1596382
for: Concert band
Single part Bass instrument (B-flat) Violin clef
Item no.: 771545
for: Concert band
Single part Clarinet (B-flat) 3
Item no.: 771527
for: Concert band
Single part Tuba/Bass instrument 1
Item no.: 376963
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Oboe (orchestral part)
Item no.: 216618
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Horn 4 in E-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226507
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 672683
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion solo
Item no.: 222440
for: Symphonic orchestra
Violin 2 (orchestral part)
Item no.: 639203
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 5, Bass instrument
Item no.: 242357
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 1, 2
Item no.: 219371
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 3, Electronium
Item no.: 219369
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Trombone 1 in B-flat (treble clef) (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226499
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Horn 1 in E-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 211835
Single part Bass instrument 2 (C)
Item no.: 134841
for: Concert band
Single part Horn (E-flat) 1
Item no.: 771538
for: Accordion orchestra
Single part Accordion 2, 4
Item no.: 222441
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