Post by franek80 on Dec 8, 2005 16:30:20 GMT -7
American friend of mine says "If there ain't a tuba, it ain't polka". Unfortunately for Willie, there doesn't seem to be as many tuba players as polka bands.
One legend has it that the polka was first danced by a Czech-Bohemian peasant girl, named Anna Slezakova, in 1830. It may be named from the Czech word "pulka" (half-step, because of the quick movement from one foot to the other). The Poles contend that the polka was first danced by Poles who lived in southern Hungary. In Polish the word polka means "Polish woman". The polka rapidly becames popular in the ballrooms of France and England, and later swept throughout Europe and the United States. When the polka reached New York in the mid-1840's, its was danced mainly by the upper class. But as waves of German and Eastern European immigrants brought their own music with them, including the polka, a musical democratization occurred. The polka came to represent a shift from formal dance styles to an informal style of social dancing. Polka was played and danced to in the new, well-lit, family-oriented bars and dance halls that were the center of social activity in the Midwest United States, including Wisconsin. Polka music and dancing gave close knit immigrant communities a continuing cultural connection to the "old country". At the same time, the informal nature of American polka dances mirrored the egalitarianism of America. It was a music for happy times, as the immigrants were optimistic about their lives in the new country. Even today, polkaholics in Wisconsin call the polka "old time good time happy music".
Polka couples circle the dance floor, often at seemingly break-neck speed, using a simple step, close, step, and hop technique. One of the most popular versions of the polka, because it is easy, is the "heel and toe and away we go". The music is in 2/4 time with a strong upbeat.
Probably the most recognizable polka tune is "The Beer Barrel Polka," which was originally a massive hit in Europe in 1935 for accordionist/band leader Will Glahe. It became the most played record on jukeboxes across the U.S. In May 1939, "The Beer Barrel Polka" was recorded by the Andrews Sisters. Within months sales exceeded 350,000. Today, in Wisconsin, if you're walking across a room with a handful of beers, and the jukebox or band strikes up "The Beer Barrel Polka", watch out, or you'll be bowled over by raucous polkamaniacs hopping and spinning across the room.
One legend has it that the polka was first danced by a Czech-Bohemian peasant girl, named Anna Slezakova, in 1830. It may be named from the Czech word "pulka" (half-step, because of the quick movement from one foot to the other). The Poles contend that the polka was first danced by Poles who lived in southern Hungary. In Polish the word polka means "Polish woman". The polka rapidly becames popular in the ballrooms of France and England, and later swept throughout Europe and the United States. When the polka reached New York in the mid-1840's, its was danced mainly by the upper class. But as waves of German and Eastern European immigrants brought their own music with them, including the polka, a musical democratization occurred. The polka came to represent a shift from formal dance styles to an informal style of social dancing. Polka was played and danced to in the new, well-lit, family-oriented bars and dance halls that were the center of social activity in the Midwest United States, including Wisconsin. Polka music and dancing gave close knit immigrant communities a continuing cultural connection to the "old country". At the same time, the informal nature of American polka dances mirrored the egalitarianism of America. It was a music for happy times, as the immigrants were optimistic about their lives in the new country. Even today, polkaholics in Wisconsin call the polka "old time good time happy music".
Polka couples circle the dance floor, often at seemingly break-neck speed, using a simple step, close, step, and hop technique. One of the most popular versions of the polka, because it is easy, is the "heel and toe and away we go". The music is in 2/4 time with a strong upbeat.
Probably the most recognizable polka tune is "The Beer Barrel Polka," which was originally a massive hit in Europe in 1935 for accordionist/band leader Will Glahe. It became the most played record on jukeboxes across the U.S. In May 1939, "The Beer Barrel Polka" was recorded by the Andrews Sisters. Within months sales exceeded 350,000. Today, in Wisconsin, if you're walking across a room with a handful of beers, and the jukebox or band strikes up "The Beer Barrel Polka", watch out, or you'll be bowled over by raucous polkamaniacs hopping and spinning across the room.
