“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: Small wind band
Item no.: 472056
for: OB (FL) KLAR FAG (BASS-KLAR)
Item no.: 334376
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 332207
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 296698
for: Ensemble (Holz)
Item no.: 1683584
for: Ensemble (Holz)
Item no.: 1683581
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683564
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683552
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683551
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683292
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683288
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683273
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683244
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683186
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683184
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683152
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683149
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683013
for: Flute, piano
Item no.: 456214
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690183
for: Saxophon-Quartett (SATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 604415
for: Melody instrument (C) [guitar/piano/keyboard]
Music score, CD
Item no.: 605174
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305356
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305244
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 158182
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268850
for: Violin
Item no.: 467225
for: Concert band
Set of parts
Item no.: 262318
for: Small wind band
Set of parts
Item no.: 132461
for: Salon orchestra
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 309815
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 462356
for: Descant (soprano) recorder, guitar
Item no.: 283091
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268846
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268779
for: Accordion
Item no.: 167974
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 168757
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 411677
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 467715
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1690487
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1669929
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1681660
Polka
Originalnoten der Holzfrei-Böhmischen
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1681675
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1681756
for: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1696790
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: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1008804
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