“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”.
Original Pieces of Old Bairian Wind Music
for: Small wind band
Single part Flute
Item no.: 326716
for: Accordion
Single edition
Item no.: 406177
(I 15 / 8)
Johann Strauß (Sohn) Gesamtausgabe, zu Serie I, Band 15/8
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 282462
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: 4 brass instruments
Single part tenor horn (in C)
Item no.: 779260
Deine Blasmusik Edition
for: 4 brass instruments
Single part tenor horn (b-flat)
Item no.: 779257
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten 81
for: Concert band
Single part Horn 1 (F)
Item no.: 1657841
Walzer
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958706
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958513
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 958227
Hymnen und Choräle
Single part bass
Item no.: 958463
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
Schlagzeug (ad lib)
for: Small wind band
Percussion (orchestral part)
Item no.: 660166
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten 81
for: Concert band
Single part Alto saxophone 2
Item no.: 350992
Michael Klostermann und seine Musikanten
for: Small wind band
Single part Baritone horn (B-flat)
Item no.: 660163
Konzertmarsch
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 958214
Konzertpolka
for: Small wind band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1670286
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Saxophone alto 2 in E-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 226511
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Clarinet 3 in B flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 194287
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Tenor horn 2 in B-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158851
Collection for young wind band
for: Youth concert band
Trumpet 1 in B-flat (orchestral part)
Item no.: 158847
Polka
for: 3 trombones, concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 397270
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 580795
Polka für Blaskapelle
for: Small wind band
Flugelhorn 1 in Bb (orchestral part)
Item no.: 1556380
Polka
Kurt Pascher und seine Original Böhmerwälder Musikanten
Edition Bergsee
for: Small wind band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1557357
Polka
Originalausgabe von "Hergolshäuser Musikanten"
for: Small wind band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1566945
Polka
for: Trumpet, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1018110
Polka
Series: BOVACO Classic CB
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1017820
Polka Brillant
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1018653
Polka
for: Concert band; voice ad lib.
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1596262
Polka, original Burgenlandkapelle
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1671446
Klavierausgabe
for: Voice, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 643325
Polka
for: Concert band
Score, conductor's part, orchestral parts
Item no.: 1557294
for: Piano
Item no.: 121587
for: Small wind band
Score
Item no.: 562868
Single part Tuba 1 (C)
Item no.: 549260
Single part Trombone 3 (C)
Item no.: 549258
for: Baritone horn (C)
Item no.: 549252
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 549249
for: Accordion
Item no.: 213998
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 214672
for: Mixed choir a cappella
Choir score
Item no.: 373874
Solo für Bläserduo und Orchester
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 458437
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Trumpet 1
Item no.: 472642
Polka
for: Small wind band
Single part Flugelhorn 2
Item no.: 472635
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 370796
Art Of Brass Vienna
for: 2 trumpets, horn, trombone, tuba (quintet)
Item no.: 114759
Goldene Zither 599
for: Zither
Item no.: 563186
for: Small wind band
Item no.: 492345
for: Diatonic accordion
Item no.: 140804