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Polka
 

Polka is a type of dance and genre of dance music; it originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia, and is still a common genre of Czech folk music; it is also common both in Europe and in the Americas. In classical music, many polkas were composed by both Johann Strauss I and his son Johann Strauss II; a couple of well-known ones were composed by Bedrich Smetana and Jaromír Vejvoda, the author of Škoda lásky ("Roll Out the Barrel").

The polka (a 2/4-beat dance of Czech origin) should not be confused with the polska (a Swedish 3/4-beat dance with Polish roots); cf. also polka-mazurka. A related dance is the redowa.

Polkas are played in Hungary as well; in Hungarian they're called polkák (plural).

Styles

There are various styles of contemporary polka. Of the US types, the North American "Polish-style polka" has roots in Chicago, Illinois, and can be identified as 'Chicago honky' and 'Chicago push' styles. This 'push' version or style of Polka features accordion, concertina, bass, drums, and (almost always) two trumpets. The 'honky' variation of this style uses clarinet and one trumpet; accordion is almost never used in this setting. North American "Slovenian-style polka" is fast and features piano accordion, and is associated with Cleveland. North American "Dutchman-style" features an oom-pah sound, often with a tuba, and has roots in the American Midwest. "Conjunto-style" has roots in Northern Mexico and Texas, and is also called Norteño. In the 1980s and 1990s several bands began to combine polka with various rock styles, sometimes referred to as "punk polka", "alternative polka" or "San Francisco-style". Irish traditional music has also adopted the polka into its repertory and there it has come into its own distinct flavor. There is even Peruvian Polca.

In the pampas, there is another kind of polka (that is called polca). It is a very very fast beat, with a 3/4 compass. Instruments used: acoustic guitar (usually six strings, but sometimes seven strings), electric or acoustic bass (sometimes fretless), accordion (sometimes piano accordion, sometimes button accordion), and sometimes some percussion is used. The lyrics always praise the gaucho warriors from the past or tell about the life of the gaucho campeiros (provincial gauchos who keep the traditions).

The latest incarnation of Polka music is eXtreme Polka and The Polkaholics are an innovative trio that is devoted to taking the fun of polka music and expanding it to a new horizon. Their newer genre has created a cult-like following of younger individuals thus crediting the band with breaking the generation barrier. This band has marketed throughout the field and beyond and should be duly recognized for the time and energy they’ve given to promote polkas.

The Polkaholics, the inventors of Polka-holism, Polka Mania and have coined the phrase The Rockingist Polka Band on the Planet can only be praised for becoming the launch pad band of Rock/Polka.

They have thrown out the rules of the polka and rock establishments and are keeping both crowds on their toes with their newly formed style. Many of the bands songs are reproductions with rearrangements. Flare, glitz and a new found glamour within the band has revitalized music of old.

Organizations

The International Polka Association based in Chicago, Illinois works to preserve the cultural heritage of polka music and to honor its musicians through the Polka Hall of Fame.

The Deviant Underground Polka Association, or DUPA in Chicago, Illinois works to push the eXtreme polka music to younger audiences by live perfomances and events with both eXtrme Polka bands and more tradtional groups at the same time: Such as Lil Wally and The Polkaholics shows at Zakopane Lounge in Chicago.

Samples

  • JennyLind.ogg of "Jenny Lind", a polka from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by John Selleck (violin) on October 2, 1939 in Camino, California

Some polka artists

Polka Radio

Many communities have a dedicated polka station or a station that plays a daily/weekly polka show. If you live in the US or Canada, to find polka music on the radio in your city, a good site to visit is http://www.radio4polkas.com/

See also

Polka

Polca | Polka | Polka | Polca | Polko | Polka | Polche | Polka | פולקה | Polka | ポルカ | Polka | Polca | Polka | 波尔卡

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Polka".

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