Polkas

The Polka craze swept Britain and the rest of Europe around 1843-4. According to P J S Richardson in The Social Dances of the 19th Century it was instrumental, along with the Waltz and the Quadrille, in sweeping the Country Dance off the dance floors of England and elsewhere.

Characterised by a '1,2,3, hop' rhythm and usually in a musical time signature of 2/4, hundreds of polkas were published in the latter half of the 19th century.

Some polkas played in sessions today

...and where they are written or recorded.

Herbert Smith's Hardcore English, Old Swan Band CD 'Still Swanning' as Dan Leno's Boat

Leeds The South Yorkshire Tune Book, Hardcore English,

Opera Hardcore English, The Fiddler of Helperby,

P & O

Primrose Hardcore English

Redowa Hardcore English