“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: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1185522
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1184843
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683574
for: Ensemble (Blech), Ensemble gemischt (Holz/Blech)
Item no.: 1683531
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683296
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683283
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683208
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683199
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683173
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683144
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1683016
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1182041
for: Fanfare
Score
Item no.: 1182008
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 623171
for: Piano
Item no.: 356637
for: Electric organ
Item no.: 107667
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682977
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 461832
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 184576
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 137320
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 684845
for: 3 saxophones (same tuning)
Score, set of parts, online audio
Item no.: 765503
for: Trumpet [cornet], piano
Piano reduction, solo part
Item no.: 863238
for: Accordion; melody instrument (B-flat) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 220778
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Bass
Item no.: 1532304
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1671462
Böhmische Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1671452
Polka für 7er Besetzung
Edition Blasmusik vom "Kleinsten"
for: 3 trumpets, tenor horn, baritone, tuba, percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1673060
Polka
Original Kapelle Egerland
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 694070
Schnellpolka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1683253
Eine im mährischen Stil effektvolle Glanznummer für das Tenor-Register
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 773775
Mährische Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1566649
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 645329
Polka
for: 3 trumpets, concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1638956
Marsch-Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (B-flat), set of parts
Item no.: 1639492
for: Trumpet (B-flat) [flugelhorn], concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1641782
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632224
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1632358
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1632416
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1559963
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 625767
Polka
Hergolshäuser Musikanten
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1563010
Falesna Frajarka / Galanecka
2 Polkas
for: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560226
Polka
Neue Böhmische Blasmusik
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560041
RUNDEL Märsche großer Meister
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560043
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560445
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1560127
Polka française op. 336
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1632404
© 2004–2024 by Stretta Music. Order and buy sheet music online.
Your specialist for all kinds of sheet music. Online shop, sheet music, music scores and play along for download, books, music stands, music stand lights, accessories.
Germany
Austria
Switzerland
Netherlands
Belgium
France
Luxembourg
Italy
Spain
Portugal
Denmark
Finland
Sweden
Poland
Czech Republic
Worldwide
