“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: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682622
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682560
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682336
for: Blasorchester
Item no.: 1682318
for: 2 flugelhorns, trumpet, tenor horn, baritone, tuba, percussion
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1673113
for: Brass ensemble (6 voices), percussion
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1653703
for: 3 horns
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1651966
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560889
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1558231
for: Piccolo, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299129
for: Viola, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1299112
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1298755
for: Concert band
Score
Item no.: 1185474
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1169810
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1015143
for: Concert Band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1012007
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 894175
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690254
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 690245
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690183
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 690179
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 689471
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score (with critical report)
Item no.: 688695
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 670451
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 462356
for: Small wind band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 375056
for: Salon orchestra
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 309815
for: Violin
Item no.: 467225
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 1670920
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 621670
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 467715
for: Symphonic orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 305244
for: 5 woodwinds (quintet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268846
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 268779
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Set of parts
Item no.: 260991
for: Symphonic orchestra
Score
Item no.: 166380
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
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1641201
Polka
for: Concert band
Conductors part (C), Parts
Item no.: 1560182
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