“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”.
Polka
for: Small wind band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1589747
BOVACO Classic CB
for: Trumpet [cornet], concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1020072
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Baritone horn (B-flat high)
Item no.: 472632
for: 1–2 accordions [accordion, piano]
Music score
Item no.: 176186
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958066
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 276842
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 268842
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir part Bass
Item no.: 1532304
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 163370
for: Small wind band; voice ad lib.
Bass instrument 1 in C (orchestral part)
Item no.: 330318
for: Salon orchestra
Einzelstimme
Item no.: 299021
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Percussion
Item no.: 1657754
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Flugelhorn 2
Item no.: 1657755
for: Flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, bassoon (wind quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 666793
Walzer und Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 331895
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part, set of parts
Item no.: 1631944
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 604665
for: Salon orchestra
Item no.: 209692
Goldene Zither 561
for: Zither
Item no.: 191302
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: 4 brass instruments
Single part tenor horn (in C)
Item no.: 1664640
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 127321
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 430615
Walter Grechenig und seine Fegerländer
for: Concert band [Small wind band]
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1560095
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 104062
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 218804
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 153812
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1198168
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Small wind band
Single part Flugelhorn 2
Item no.: 660159
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Small wind band
Single part baritone horn [trombone] (C)
Item no.: 1657927
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
Trompete (ad lib)
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet (B-flat)
Item no.: 1657887
for: Combo
Item no.: 560642
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 458887
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Clarinet 3
Item no.: 472638
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 140742
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 125687
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Horn 1 in F (orchestral part)
Item no.: 278096
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Tenor horn 1 in B-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226508
Goldene Zither 567
for: Zither
Item no.: 488002
Schnell-Polka, Galopp
for: Mixed choir (SATB), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 1543928
for: Saxophone, piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 463988
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 957963
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958727
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert Band/Harmonie and 3 Baritones/Euphoniums
Score
Item no.: 958634
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958382
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958073
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