“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: Piano 6 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 137998
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 677770
Öt Mefisztó-keringő / Mefisztó-Polka
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 256606
pour 2 flutes piccolos et piano
Collection Jean-Louis Beaumadier
for: 2 piccolos, piano
Piano score, Solo parts
Item no.: 605115
Polka for two clarinets & piano
for: 2 clarinets, piano
Klavierpartitur, 2 Solostimmen
Item no.: 443707
Polka
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (tablature), online audio (app)
Item no.: 586865
Belwin Classic Library
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 403821
für Streichorchester
for: String orchestra
Score
Item no.: 218197
for: Accordion
Music score, Playback-CD
Item no.: 373110
Eine Sammlung berühmter Klaviermusik aus drei Jahrhunderten
for: Piano
Music score (anthology)
Item no.: 379456
(Hey Rosi)
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 770575
Polka
for: 2 clarinets, concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 371177
Polka
Neuausgabe nach dem Autograph
Kompletter Satz Bläser- und Schlagzeugstimmen
for: Symphonic orchestra
Harmony parts (complete winds)
Item no.: 677771
Marsch-Polka
2. Stimme ad lib.
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 179091
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 185983
Eine Sammlung von beliebten Tänzen, Märschen, Liedern und Stücken, leicht gesetzt
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 288332
Polka schnell, op. 214
for: 2 clarinets (B-flat), 2 trumpets (B-flat), 2 horns (F), 2 trombones, percussion
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1592
Volksweise
Aufg'spielt zum Volkstanz 5
for: Folk music band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 577630
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 130473
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 364735
6er Blech PLUS
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 949041
Originalausgabe
for: Piano 4 hands
Ensemble score
Item no.: 170817
Das Akkordeon Duo
for: 2 accordions (duet)
Music score
Item no.: 181173
Polka schnell für Orchester
Neuausgabe Eduard Strauss
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688713
for: Clarinet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299126
Rhythmus und Schwung
for: Accordion; voice ad lib.
Single edition
Item no.: 102009
Polka schnell
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 292366
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 224676
für Posaune und Klavier
for: Trombone, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 662484
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1566676
für Sinfonieorchester
Polka schnell
Partitur
Doblingers Johan Strauß Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 183668
Slowenischer Polka- und Walzerkönig
Spiralbindung
for: Diatonic accordion
Music book (notes and tablature), CD
Item no.: 697134
Die Sammlung mit allen Erfolgen des Polka-Königs
for: Accordion
Music score (spiral binding)
Item no.: 456928
Polka schnell für Orchester
Strauss Edition Wien / Neue Johann Strauss Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688932
Polka schnell nach Motiven der Operette "Cagliostro in Wien"
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 275244
Polka
for: Guitar
Sheet music
Item no.: 3237
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 220585
for: Accordion orchestra
Score
Item no.: 261776
Polka française
Partitur in den Fassungen AB/C
Strauss Edition Wien / Neue Johann Strauss Gesamtausgabe
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690589
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 657244
op. 449 (1893)
for: 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass [string orchestra]
Score, parts (pdf download)
Item no.: 1593
for two Clarinets in Bb and Piano
for: 2 clarinets, piano
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 685019
op. 214
for: 4 Blockflöten (SSAA) und Klavier
Score, Parts
Item no.: 355206
Polka
for: 5 clarinets (B-flat), bass clarinet
Score, Parts
Item no.: 169806
für 4 Violoncelli
for: 4 cellos
Set of parts
Item no.: 108686
26 Stücke für jede Gelegenheit: Barock, Choräle, Volkslied, Polka, Märsche etc.
Musik für Blechbläser – Partitur in C und 4 Stimmen
for: Flexible wind ensemble (4 voices)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 494075
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 478552
for: Salon orchestra
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 494766