Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Polka Genres

Author Charles Keil and his wife state that “there are as many styles of polka as there are polka localities.” Nevertheless, they have divided American polka music into three major genres:

  1. Slavic with two sub-genres:
    Polish-American and
    Slovenian-American;
    found in eastern and midwestern America.

  2. Germanic with two sub-genres:
    German-American and
    Czech-American;
    found in midwestern and western America.

  3. Southwestern with two sub-genres:
    Mexican-American and
    Papago-Pima;
    found in southwestern America.



Although these genres are very different in instrumentation and tempo, they are all united by the following:



  • characteristic 2/4 time signature


  • instruments: accordion or concertina, wind instruments and drums


  • lyrics about joy, religion and culture

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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Monday, April 28, 2008

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Polka Music in American Society

Polka is a vivacious form of dance music in 2/4 time. Polka music became a part of American society with the arrival of the first Eastern European immigrants.


The styles of nowaday's different genres of polka may vary but they all allow their performers and participants to express their ethnicity, heritage and manifestation of their culture.

Polka festivals, each with its own unique characteristics and performers throughout the country attract polka enthusiasts who share their passion for polka music and dancing.


Johnny Pecon Orchestra - Marybelle Polka


A very rare clip from 1958.





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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Friday, April 18, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Joe Fedorchak Orchestra - Where Did The Good Times Go



Joe and the gang at Seven Springs doing "Where Did The Good Times Go."

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Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Slavko Avsenik & Gregor Avsenik



Slavko Avsenik (accordion) with his son Gregor Avsenik (guitar) playing in Piran, Slovenia in 1998.

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Monday, April 14, 2008

Frank Yankovic "Tick Tock Polka"

Frank and the Yanks with the "Tick Tock Polka"

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