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{{short description|Style of music and dance of Bohemian origin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{for|the media production company|Pol-ka}}

{{Infobox music genre
| name              = Polka
| stylistic_origins = {{hlist|[[Music of the Czech Republic#Traditional music|Czech folk music]]}}
| cultural_origins  = Early to mid-19th century, [[Kingdom of Bohemia]], [[Austrian Empire]]
| derivatives       = {{hlist|[[Norteño (music)|Norteño]]|[[Maxixe (dance)|maxixe]]|[[biguine]]}}
| regional_scenes   = {{hlist|[[Paraguayan polka]]|[[Slovenian-style polka]]}}
| other_topics      = {{hlist|[[Duple time]]|[[oom-pah]]}}
}}

[[File:La Polka.jpg| thumb| A polka dance]]

'''Polka''' is a [[dance]] style and [[musical genre|genre]] of [[dance music]] in {{music|time|2|4}} originating in nineteenth-century [[Bohemia]], now part of the [[Czech Republic]]. Though generally associated with [[Culture of the Czech Republic|Czech]] and [[Central Europe|Central European culture]], polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Polka: From Europe to Northeast Ohio |url=https://www.pbswesternreserve.org/blogs/luminus-stories-about-us/the-history-of-polka-from-europe-to-northeast-ohio/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=PBS Western Reserve |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Etymology ===
[[File:Prague Street Musicians (Polka Band).jpg|thumb|Street musicians in [[Prague]] playing a polka|left]]
The term ''polka'' referring to the dance is believed to derive from the Czech words "půlka", meaning "half-step". 
Czech cultural historian [[Čeněk Zíbrt]] attributes the term to the Czech word ''půlka'' (half), referring to both the half-tempo {{music|time|2|4}} and the half-jump step of the dance.<ref name="zibrt">Čeněk Zíbrt, "Jak se kdy v Čechách tancovalo: dějiny tance v Čechách, na Moravě, ve Slezsku a na Slovensku z věků nejstarších až do nové doby se zvláštním zřetelem k dějinám tance vůbec", Prague, 1895 [https://books.google.com/books?id=uA47AAAAMAAJ&q=%22%C4%8Cen%C4%9Bk+Z%C3%ADbrt%22+polka+-wikipedia (Google eBook)]</ref> 

The name was changed to "Polka" as an expression of honour and sympathy for Poland and the Poles after the [[November Uprising]] 1830–1831.{{cn|date=August 2025}}{{speculation inline|date=October 2025}} "Polka" meaning, in both the Czech and Polish languages, "Polish woman".<ref name="OED">"polka, n.". Oxford University Press. (accessed 11 July  2012).</ref> The name was widely introduced into the major European languages in the early 1840s.<ref name="OED" />{{relevance inline|date=October 2025}}

=== Origin and popularity ===

[[File:Polka (NYPL b12147626-5094855).jpg|thumb|Polka, c. 1840]]
The polka's origin story first appears in the periodical ''Bohemia'' in 1844,<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Martin |first1=Andrew R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wvb2DwAAQBAJ |title=Music around the World: A Global Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: A Global Encyclopedia |last2=Ph.D |first2=Matthew Mihalka |date=2020-09-08 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-61069-499-5 |language=en}}</ref> in which it was attributed to a young Bohemian woman named Anna Slezáková (born Anna Chadimová). As told by [[Čeněk Zíbrt]], the music teacher Josef Neruda noticed her dancing in an unusual way to accompany a local folk song called "''Strýček Nimra koupil šimla''", or "Uncle Nimra Bought a White Horse" in 1830. The dance was further propagated by [[Josef Neruda|Neruda]], who put the tune to paper and taught other young men to dance it.<ref name=zibrt/> Some versions of this origin story placed the first polka as being danced in [[Hradec Králové|Hradec Kralove]], while others claimed it occurred in the village of Labska Tynica.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=MARCH |first1=RICK |last2=Blau |first2=Dick |title=Polka Heartland: Why the Midwest Loves to Polka |date=2015 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/26389332 |journal=The Wisconsin Magazine of History |volume=99 |issue=1 |pages=50–53 |jstor=26389332 |issn=0043-6534}}</ref> Historians believe the polka evolved as a quicker version of the waltz, and associate the rapid bourgeoning in popularity of the polka across Europe in the mid-1800s with the spread of the [[Romantic movement]], which emphasized an idealized version of peasant culture.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gershon |first=Livia |date=2020-02-10 |title=The Rebellious, Scandalous Origins of Polka |url=https://daily.jstor.org/the-rebellious-scandalous-origins-of-polka/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=JSTOR Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

By 1835, this dance had spread to the ballrooms of [[Prague]]. From there, it spread to classical music hub [[Vienna]] by 1839,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aboutdanceschools.com/dance/education/history/polka.asp |title=History of polka |publisher=www.com |access-date=24 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218232019/http://www.aboutdanceschools.com/dance/education/history/polka.asp |archive-date=18 February 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in 1840 was introduced in [[Paris]] by Johaan Raab, a Prague dance instructor.<ref name=":0" /> It was so well received in Paris that its popularity was referred to as "polkamania."<ref>"Polkamania ... has raged very fiercely amongst us, indeed all over London this year." Letter by E. J. Knox,14 August 1844: quoted in A. E. Blake, ''Memoirs of a Vanished Generation ...'', London (1909) viii, 217</ref> The dance soon spread to [[London]] in 1844, where it was considered highly fashionable, and was also introduced to America.<ref name=":0" /> It remained a popular ballroom dance in America, especially with growing Central, Northern, and Eastern European immigrant groups until the late 19th century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=March |first=Richard |date=2019-06-01 |title=American Polka in the Media: From Next to Nothing to 24/7 |url=https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/14042 |journal=Transatlantica. Revue d'études américaines. American Studies Journal |language=en |issue=1 |doi=10.4000/transatlantica.14042 |s2cid=241758865 |issn=1765-2766|doi-access=free }}</ref>

It may also be responsible for an increase in domestic popularity since the end of the 19th century, starting with the birth of recorded music, at first thanks to the many recordings provided by [[Berliner Gramophone|Emile Berliner's Gramophone company]], which provided several examples of popular music. Some of the more desired American recordings include Berliner 230 ("Commodore Polka", played by [[W. Paris Chambers]])<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berliner matrix 230. Commodore polka / Artists vary |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000147906/230-Commodore_polka |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}}</ref> and the Berliner 3300s series (which include recordings like "The Signal polka" (BeA 3307) and "Exposition echoes polka" (BeA 3301), played by [[Arthur Pryor]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berliner matrix 3307. The signal polka / Arthur Pryor |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000148782/3307-The_signal_polka |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Berliner matrix 3301. Exposition echoes / Arthur Pryor |url=https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000148776/3301-Exposition_echoes |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Discography of American Historical Recordings}}</ref> though most early records are extremely scarce or nonexistent anymore due to their fragile nature.
[[File:Berliner Gramophone 3301Z.png|thumb|200x200px|Berliner 3301Z label]]

== Styles and variants ==
{{refimprove-section|date=January 2018}}
{{Image frame|content=<score>
\new RhythmicStaff { \time 2/4 c16 16 8 16 16 8 | 8 8 8 r | }
</score>|caption=Polka [[rhythm]]<ref name="Blatter">Blatter, Alfred (2007). ''Revisiting Music Theory: A Guide to the Practice'', p. 28. {{ISBN|0-415-97440-2}}.</ref>}}
There are various styles of contemporary polka besides the original Czech dance, which is still the chief dance at any formal or countryside ball in the Czech Republic.

=== Belarus ===
In the 1850s, polka was expanded among [[Belarusians]], and was transformed by the national culture.<ref>''Shavyrkin M.'' Belarusian polka // [[Zvyazda]]: gazeta.  - 15 lutag 1997. - No. 32 (23133).  — P. 8.</ref><ref name="autolink1" /> In different regions, local variants arose, which assimilated with local choreographic folklore and gained popularity. The ease of penetration of the polka into Belarusian choreography was due to its degree of proximity to Belarusian national choreographic traditions.<ref name="autolink2">Polka // Ethnagraphy of Belarus: Encyclopedia / Ed.: I.  P. Shamyakin (gal. ed.) and insh.  - Minsk: BelSE, 1989. - S. 406</ref>

The 2/4 meter polka merged well with Belarusian traditional dance, which had a similar meter. For example, "[[Trasucha]]" ([[Belarusian language|Belarusian]]: ''"Трасуха", "Trasucha"'' or ''"Пацяруха", "Paciaruchais"'') a symbol of a typical folk dance, from which it received its name, and polka.<ref name="autolink1" /> Most often in Belarus, the polka is performed in pairs, moving half a step with turns in a circle. The dance is decorated with a variety of small pas,<ref name="autolink2" /> often accompanied by [[chastushka]]e.

Belarusian polkas are extremely rich in their choreographic and musical patterns, and are distinguished by great modal and intonation diversity.<ref name="autolink1">{{cite book |author=Churko, Yulia Mikhailovna |title=Vyanok of Belarusian dances |year=1994 |oclc=52282243 |place=Belarus |pages=8, 88}}</ref> Polka demands both skill and physical endurance from the dancers.[[File:Polka finnish championship Pispalan Sottiisia.jpg|thumb|People dancing polka in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]] in 2006]]

Like the square dance, the polka also has many local variants: "Віцебчанка, Viciebčanka", "Барысаўская, Barysaŭskaja", "Ганкоўская, Hankoŭskaja", and the names were also given according to the peculiarities of the choreography: "Through the leg", "With a podkindes", "With squats", "On the heel", "Screw" and others.<ref name="autolink1" />

=== United States ===
{{main article|Polka in the United States}}
In the United States, polka is promoted by the [[International Polka Association]] based in [[Chicago]], which works to preserve the cultural heritage of polka music and to honor its musicians through the [[Polka Hall of Fame]]. Chicago is associated with "Polish-style polka," and its sub-styles including "The Chicago [[Honky]]" (using [[clarinet]] and one [[trumpet]]) and "Chicago Push" featuring the [[accordion]], [[Chemnitzer concertina|Chemnitzer]] and Star concertinas, upright bass or [[bass guitar]], drums, and (almost always) two trumpets. [[File:Texas Polka Music Museum, Schulenburg IMG 8217.JPG|thumb|Texas Polka Music Museum in [[Schulenburg, Texas|Schulenburg]], [[Texas]]]]

Polka is popular in [[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin, where the "[[Beer Barrel Polka]]" is played during the [[seventh-inning stretch]] and halftime of [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and [[Milwaukee Bucks]] games.<ref>{{cite web |title=ESPN.com – Page2 – A great place ... for a tailgate |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/ballparks/miller.html |access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref>  Polka is also the official state dance of [[Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wisconsin State Symbols |url=http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_symbols.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629233635/http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/wisconsin_state_symbols.html |archive-date=29 June 2006 |publisher=Wisconsin.gov}}</ref>

The United States Polka Association is a non-profit organization based in Cleveland, Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Polka Association |url=http://www.uspapolka.com/about-us |website=United States Polka Association}}</ref> Cleveland is associated with North American "[[Slovenian-style polka]]", which is fast and features piano [[accordion]], chromatic accordion, and/or diatonic button box accordion. North American "Dutchmen-style" features an [[oom-pah]] sound often with a [[tuba]] and [[banjo]], and has roots in the American [[Midwest]].

"[[Conjunto]]-style" polkas have roots in northern [[Mexico]] and [[Texas]], and are also called "[[Norteño (music)|Norteño]]". Traditional dances from this region reflect the influence of polka-dancing European immigrants from 1800s. In the 1980s and 1990s, several American bands began to combine polka with various [[rock and roll|rock]] styles (sometimes referred to as "[[Punk rock|punk]] polka"), "[[alternative rock|alternative]] polka".

Comedy musician [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] is a fan of polka, and on every album since 1984 (with the exception of ''[[Even Worse]]''), Al has [[List of "Weird Al" Yankovic polka medleys|taken bits of famous songs and modified them to fit polka style]].

The [[Grammy Awards]] were first presented for polka in 1985. The first award went to [[Frankie Yankovic]], known as "America's Polka King", for his ''[[70 Years of Hits]]'' album on [[Cleveland International Records]]. [[Cleveland International Records]] had another polka Grammy winner with [[Brave Combo]]'s ''[[Polkasonic]]'' in 1999. Other polka [[Grammy]] nominees included [[Frankie Yankovic]]'s ''America's Favorites'' (1986), ''Songs of the Polka King Vol. I'', ''Songs of the Polka King Vol. II'' (1997), and Brave Combo's ''Kick Ass Polkas'' (2000). [[Jimmy Sturr]] & His Orchestra is one of the most popular polka bands in America, having won 18 of the 24 awards for [[Grammy Award for Best Polka Album]].

''Polka Varieties'' was an hour-long television program of polka music originating from [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]]. The show, which aired in several U.S. cities, ran from 1956 until 1983. At that time, it was the only television program for this type of music in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paul Wilcox, host of 'Polka Varieties' in Cleveland, dies at age of 85 |url=http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/about_us/paul-wilcox,-host-of-'polka-varieties'-in-cleveland,-dies-at-age-of-85 |access-date=20 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728050626/http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/about_us/paul-wilcox,-host-of-'polka-varieties'-in-cleveland,-dies-at-age-of-85 |archive-date=28 July 2010}}</ref> A number of polka shows originated from the [[Buffalo Niagara Region]] in the 1960s, including [[WKBW-TV]]'s ''Polka Time'', which was hosted for its first half-year on air by Frankie Yankovic, and cross-border station [[CHCH-TV]]'s ''Polka Party'', hosted by [[Walter Ostanek]].<ref>[http://www.forgottenbuffalo.com/forgottenbuffalomedia/poloniamedia.html Forgotten Buffalo featuring Polonia Media]. Retrieved 16 May 2013.</ref> In 2015, when Buffalo station [[WBBZ-TV]] launched the weekly ''Polka Buzz'' hosted by Ron Dombrowski, who also hosts the Drive Time Polkas radio show on [[WXRL]] Mondays-Saturdays from 5pm-7pm and on [[WECK]] Sundays from 8am-11am.<ref name="chronicle41417">Herr, Jim (14 April  2017). [http://cheektowagachronicle.com/wbbz-tvs-polka-buzz-hosts-fun-dance-party-cheektowaga/ WBBZ-TV’s “Polka Buzz” hosts fun dance parties in Cheektowaga]. ''Cheektowaga Chronicle''. Retrieved 14 April  2017.</ref>)

Beginning with its inception in 2001, the [[RFD-TV]] Network aired ''The Big Joe Show'', a television program that included polka music and dancing. It was filmed on location in various venues throughout the United States from 1973 through 2009. RFD-TV replaced The Big Joe Show with Mollie Busta's Polka Fest in January 2011; after Big Joe's death, [[rerun]]s of ''The Big Joe Show'' returned to RFD-TV in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |author=My Journey To Happiness |date=5 February 2011 |title=LIFE: observed: American Cultural Observation 331: RFD-TV's Polka Fest |url=https://mariusprinsloo.blogspot.com/2011/02/american-cultural-observation-331.html |access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref>

In 2009, the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]], which hosts the [[Grammy Awards]], announced that it was eliminating the [[Grammy Award for Best Polka Album|polka category]]<ref name="grammy">{{cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |date=5 June 2009 |title=Polka Music Is Eliminated as Grammy Award Category |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/arts/music/05polk.html |access-date=22 May 2010}}</ref> "to ensure the awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape".<ref name="grammy" /> A declining number of polka albums were considered for the award in previous years.<ref name="grammy" />

=== South America ===
Peruvian polkas (becoming very popular in [[Lima]]). In the [[pampas]] of Argentina, the "polca" has a very fast beat with a {{music|time|3|4}} time signature. Instruments used are: 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 common way). The polka was very popular in South and Southwest of Brazil, where it was mixed with other European and African styles to create the [[Choro]]. There also exist [[Curaçao]]an polkas.

=== Ireland ===
The polka (''polca'' in the [[Irish language]]) is also one of the most popular traditional folk dances in [[Ireland]], particularly in [[Sliabh Luachra]], a district that spans the borders of counties [[County Kerry|Kerry]], [[County Cork|Cork]] and [[County Limerick|Limerick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://comhaltas.ie/glossary|title=Comhaltas: Glossary|author=Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann|access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref> Many of the figures of Irish [[set dance]]s, which developed from Continental [[quadrille]]s, are danced to polkas. Introduced to Ireland in the late 19th century, there are today hundreds of Irish polka tunes, which are most frequently played on the fiddle or button accordion. The Irish polka is dance music form in {{music|time|2|4}}, typically 32 bars in length and subdivided into four parts, each 8 bars in length and played AABB.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtune.info/rhythm/|title=irishtune.info Rhythm Definitions – Irish Traditional Music Tune Index|author=Alan Ng|access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref><ref>Vallely, F. (1999). The Companion to Traditional Irish Music. New York University Press: New York, p. 301</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fiddlingaround.co.uk/ireland/irishfiddling.html|title=Irish Fiddle|access-date=22 May 2015}}</ref><ref>Lyth, D. Bowing. ''Styles in Irish Fiddle Playing''. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, p. 18.</ref> Irish polkas are typically played fast, at over 130 bpm, and are typically played with an off-beat accent.<ref>Cooper, P. (1995). ''Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddle Player''. Mel Bay Publications: Pacific, p. 19, 46</ref><ref>[[Matt Cranitch|Cranitch, M.]] (1988). ''The Irish Fiddle Book''. Music Sales Corporation: New York, p. 66.</ref>

=== Philippines ===

The Polka made its way to the Philippines during the mid-19th century and was adapted by Filipinos to local tastes and style. The Filipino Polka is usually more mellow than its European and American counterparts and often accompanied by the [[rondalla]] or a [[brass band]]. The Philippine polka step is performed as a step on count "one," a close on count "and," and a step on count "two and."

A number of different polkas were documented in the Philippines. The {{lang|fil|malaket-a-polka}} or "happy" polka from [[Estanza]], [[Pangasinan]], The {{lang|fil|polkabal}} ({{lang|fil|polka-balse}} or "polka-waltz") and {{lang|fil|polka antigo}} from [[Quezon]], the {{lang|fil|polka sa nayon}} from [[Batangas]], the {{lang|fil|polka culebra}} from [[Bulacan]], and the {{lang|fil|polka tagala}} from the [[Tagalog people|Tagalog]] region, among others. The polka music was also used as basis for other Filipino folk dances and folk songs.<ref>CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art Digital Edition.
Title: Polka. Author/s: Corazon Generoso-Iñigo (1994). URL: https://epa.culturalcenter.gov.ph/6/46/87/</ref><ref>Divinagracia, R. L. (2019). Continuity and change: Hispanic musical influence in the Philippines. American International Journal of Social Science, 4(8), 46–53.https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/71239829/7-libre.pdf?1633325948=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DContinuity_and_Change_Hispanic_Musical_I.pdf&Expires=1760547949&Signature=GrGE6O8ad2bnXr6LqU-TV6iXH~qFIhJAOlbXtIAEavd9mLVnBqk4-9UAjMsYhLfeD55DN0aA-G-x82KIsYWwo89~5G1DvYH8hLj0BmAtLsdy40WfZ~tkXEqGYo9qr6~Z-5wxgb~kqN6MBsjRVS4QyZB51B0AMouxUTdn4iSJ4HeHdq7B2SZA3ox35J6lAj7xRQsTQHdO0ZIsM8uMCRhMO0yDbOpZkQfYvnKB9uA-XttmEIy3zGHbhLh4M~UoVJeHfBjtxZXkw3lQnHozJ-RyAvzjh49IGGa4LZhOcQ4KPmdmTPWK6iEPpofLpJa66am3r3mZN3o-Fd5aNT~Pn6qaXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA</ref>

=== Nordic countries ===
The polka also migrated to the Nordic countries where it is known by a variety of names in Denmark (polka, reinlænderpolka, galop, hopsa, hamborger), Finland (polkka), Iceland, Norway (galopp, hamborgar, hopsa/hopsar, parisarpolka, polka, polkett, skotsk) and Sweden (polka). The beats are not as heavy as those from Central Europe and the dance steps and holds also have variations not found further south. The polka is considered a part of the [[gammeldans]] tradition of music and dance. While it is nowhere near as old as the older Nordic dance and music traditions, there are still hundreds of polka tunes in each of the Nordic countries. They are played by solo instrumentalists or by bands/ensembles, most frequently with lead instruments such as [[accordion]], [[fiddle]], diatonic accordion, [[hardingfele]] and [[nyckelharpa]].

== Polka in the classical repertoire ==
{{refimprove-section|date=September 2020}}
[[File:Polka 1848.jpg|thumb|Polka]]

[[Bedřich Smetana]] incorporated the polka in his opera ''[[The Bartered Bride]]'' ({{langx|cs|Prodaná nevěsta}}) and in particular, Act 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.operanorth.co.uk/blogs/the-bartered-bride-five-fascinating-facts|title=The Bartered Bride: Five fascinating facts|website=[[Opera North]]|access-date=2017-10-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbur.org/artery/2014/07/22/bartered-bride|title=Smetana's ''Bartered Bride'' Gives a Taste of the Czech Countryside (in Boston)|website=[[WBUR-FM]]|date=22 July 2014 |access-date=2017-10-03}}</ref>

While the polka is Bohemian in origin, most dance music composers in [[Vienna]] (the capital of the vast [[Habsburg]] [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]], which was the cultural centre for music from all over the empire) composed polkas and included the dance in their repertoire at some point in their careers. The [[:Category:Strauss family|Strauss family]] in Vienna, for example, while better-known for their [[waltz]]es, also composed polkas that have survived. [[Joseph Lanner]] and other Viennese composers in the 19th century also wrote polkas to satisfy the demands of the dance-music-loving Viennese. In France, another dance-music composer, [[Émile Waldteufel]], wrote polkas.

The polka evolved during the same period into different styles and tempos. In principle, the polka written in the 19th century has a four-theme structure; themes 1A and 1B as well as a 'Trio' section of a further two themes. The 'Trio' usually has an 'Intrada' to form a break between the two sections. The feminine and graceful 'French polka' (polka française) is slower in tempo and is more measured in its gaiety. [[Johann Strauss II]]'s {{ill|Annen-Polka|de|lt="Annen-Polka"}}, Op. 114, "[[Demolirer-Polka]], Op. 269, the "[[Im Krapfenwald'l]]", Op. 336, and the "[[Bitte schön!]]" polka, Op. 372, are examples of this type of polka. The [[polka-mazurka]] is also another variation of the polka, being in the tempo of a [[mazurka]] but danced in a similar manner as the polka. The final category of the polka form around that time is the ''Polka schnell'', which is a fast polka or ''[[galop]]''. [[Eduard Strauss]] is better known for this last category, as he penned the "Bahn Frei" polka, Op. 45, and other examples. Earlier, [[Johann Strauss I]] and Josef Lanner wrote polkas designated as a ''galop'' (quick tempo) or as a regular polka that may not fall into any of the categories above.

The polka was a further source of inspiration for the Strauss family in Vienna when Johann II and Josef Strauss wrote one for plucked string instruments ([[pizzicato]]) only, the {{ill|Pizzicato Polka|simple|lt="Pizzicato Polka"}}.<ref>{{AllMusic|class=composition|id=mc0002362796|title=Pizzicato Polka for orchestra, Op. 234|author=John Palmer}}</ref> Johann II later wrote the "[[Neue Pizzicato Polka]]" (New pizzicato-polka), Op. 449, culled from music of his [[operetta]] ''{{ill|Fürstin Ninetta|de}}''. Much earlier, he also wrote a "joke-polka" (German ''scherz-polka'') entitled "[[Champagner-Polka]]", Op. 211, which evokes the uncorking of champagne bottles.

Other composers who wrote music in the style of the polka were [[Jaromír Weinberger]], [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] and [[Igor Stravinsky]].{{Listen
| title=La Tipica
| filename=Carlo Curti - La Tipica.ogg
| description="La Tipica" - polka by [[Carlo Curti]], performed by Trio Romano in 1921.
}}
{{Listen|type=music|filename=JennyLind.ogg|title="Jenny Lind Polka"|description=Played on a fiddle, 1939}}

== See also ==
* [[List of polka artists]]
* [[Austrian folk dance]]
* [[Polkagris]], a candy named after the dance
* [[Polka dot]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==

* Vaclovas Paukštė, ''Polka Lietuvoje'' ("Polka in Lithuania"), Vilnius, Vilnius Pedagogical University, 2000, 28 pages

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Polka}}

* [http://www.clevelandstyle.com/ National Cleveland-Style Polka Hall of Fame].
* {{Cite EB1911|short=1|wstitle=Polka}}
* {{Cite Americana|short=1|wstitle=Polka|year=1920}}
* [http://culture.pl/en/article/polka-kings-does-polka-music-really-come-from-poland Polka Kings: Does Polka Music Really Come from Poland?] from Culture.pl
* {{YouTube|enOgMTCI-LQ|Donal Murphy & Matt Cronitch}}, [[Sliabh Luachra]] polkas

{{Dance}}
{{Folk music}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Polka| ]]
[[Category:Symbols of Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Dance in the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:European dances]]
[[Category:Dance forms in classical music]]