HELENA POLKA

No accordion sites are complete without the Polka. So here it is; an American traditional...
Polka is a type of dance, and also a genre of dance music. It originated in the middle of the 19th century in Bohemia, and is still a common genre of Czech, Polish and Slovenian folk music; it is 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 Bedřich Smetana and Jaromír Vejvoda, the author of Škoda lásky ("Roll Out the Barrel").

The name comes from German word Polka[1], meaning "Bohemian Dance" which comes from the Czech word polka, also meaning "Bohemian dance", which itself is lent from the Polish polka, literally meaning "Polish woman", fem. of Polak. The word may also be an German-originating alteration of Czech pulka, meaning "half." Due to its name it is often mistakenly attributed to Poland. It should also not be confused with the polska, a Swedish 3/4-beat (help·info) dance with Polish roots; cf. polka-mazurka. A related dance is the redowa. Polkas have a 4/4 time signature



***

Slovenian-American Style Polka

Slovenian-style polka bands usually perform using the following instruments:

• piano accordion or button box accordion
• saxophone (or clarinet)
• banjo (for polkas) and/or guitar (for waltzes)

Slovenian-American polka is generally played at a faster tempo than Polisj-American.

Cleveland and northeast Ohio is the main center of Slovenian-style polka music - along with Pennsylvania and many other cities in the Great Lakes region. No wonder Slovenian-American polka is often referred to as "Cleveland-Style" polka.

Bands, playing Slovenian-style polka music have also expanded their repertoire by including a variety of elements and styles from other kinds of genres like polkas, waltzes, standards, Latin dances (cha chas, tangos, etc.), line dances, and even rock 'n roll.


Video below: Frank Yankovic - "Hoop-Dee-Doo Polka" from circa 1960



Video below: Lou Trebar with Joey Miskulin and the Frank Yankovic Orchestra - "Knaus' Waltz" and "Argentina Waltz"



Video below: Johnny Vadnal Orchestra - "Round Up the Gang" & "Teach Me How To Yodel" from Polkatime USA TV Show hosted by Joey Miskulin in the early 1980s



Video below: Walter Ostanek & Eddie Habat (Live 1994)
Two polka kings of Canada and Cleveland perform on the 30th anniversary concert of Lojze Slak's ensemble on TV.

***

Eastern Style Polish-American Polka

Eastern-style polka relates more to the big-band musical era - although it is still very similar to Chicago-style.

Eastern-style polka is also played at a faster tempo and typically includes more horns and reeds.


Video below: Jimmy Sturr - "Come Share the Wine" 2 CD Deal

***

Chicago Style Polish-American Polka

Charles Keil further subdivided Polish-American Polka into Chicago Style and Eastern Style.

Chicago-style polka music is closely related to the rock-and-roll era of the ’50s. It's sometimes referred to as the “push” style because of the intense “bellows-shaking” of the accordion.

Chicago-style polka band typically includes a trumpet or two, an (always present) accordion, a concertina, drums, a bass, and sometimes a clarinet or a fiddle.


Video below: Eddie Blazonczyk Jr And The Versatones - White Table



Video below: Lenny Gomulka & Chicago Push - Willie's Wedding Polka



Video below: Marion Lush (the "Golden Voice") and TWE - Sing'n My Heart Out, Go'n Downtown Polka



Video below: Crusade - Naked Polka



Video below: Polka Family Band - Pennsylvania Hills Polka



Video below: Dynatones - Rosalinda Polka

***

Polish-American Polka

Polish Polka bands in America play a wide variety of genres/styles:

• polkas,



• Obereks,



• Polish Waltzes, and sometimes even



• Polish tangos.
  
  
  The "Polish polka" as known in American society has never been danced in Poland. Rather, Polish folk dancing consists of different forms of polka.
  
  To appeal to a larger audience, different performers of this fast-paced music were successfully incorporating elements of modern music into traditional polka style.

The hot spots of Polish-American polka are known to be: Pennsylvania, cities around the Great Lakes and some cities on the East Coast.

***

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

***

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.

***