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I've mentioned (in quite a few other threads) I don't have a great feeling about 'Polkas'. I think it's mainly because I can't quite shake a feeling of wanting to fight against some stereotypical 'Lawrence Welk'/'Weird Al Yankovinc' indoctrination as a kid.
Wikipedia says:
Irish polkas are typically played fast, at over 130 bpm, and are typically played with an off-beat accent.
'Off-beat' should be something for me to love! ...maybe too much of one kind of beat(?) ALL way too much happy (for me)!
Some tunes I've learned say 'Polka' on The Session, but they don't feel like one. A tune like 'Raggle, Taggle, Gypsy' just doesn't feel like a 'Polka' to me. The Session site tune selection is limited - and 'Air', 'Ballad', etc... are just NOT options. So what may 'say' Polka there, may really be another type of dance tune, or song type.
...what to do about it?
Well, I'm trying to be open-minded - and a different perspective can help me change how I feel. I've watched many tutorials, but jumped at the chance to watch a recent Liz Carroll video tutorial!
'What's the story with Polkas (Irish)?' Liz Carroll does play & compose many Polkas - and I love her playing!
Okay, so now I see there's more room for expression in a Polka than I originally thought.
🤔... many people do DANCE polkas, but on the other hand, I still feel like I get more enjoyment/mileage out of playing a reel.
I do like Reinländers/Rheinländers - they're similar, but slower than Polkas... AND some are not so happy-feeling!
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oh i see what youre doin here... the ol' bait and switch... get'em with the polka topic to tell them about Reinländers/Rheinländers.
i like the slurring version she played at 3:00. really like that style.
i know what you mean about lawerence welk. as a kid at my grandmothers on Sunday...used to hate it in the winter when that would come on. seems like right after wild kingdom or mutual of omaha wild kingdom.. CAREFUL DAN.. or JIM.. cant remember his name...lol
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@ABitRusty -
Yeah, have to admit I've been favoring Schottisches & Rheinländers (sp?) more than Polkas... not sure why.
I'm still not completely sure what definitive features a 'Polka' has that's different from so many other 2/4 dances/dance music (maybe even some 4/4)! ...tempo can be a factor, where the 'pulse' is, but it's kinda weird that I feel some similarity with hornpipes (2 pulses per measure, some dotted notes, and some phrases ending with tonic played twice).
OMG... (feeling really stupid, now) just found what I was MISSING!!! A discussion at The Session helped - 'Polka vs Hornpipe' (so I'm not the only one). Mark M said:
Try tapping both feet, one at half speed. On hornpipes you’ll find that the slow foot taps on 1 and 3, on polkas 2 and 4.
ARGH! I'm obviously still locked into a 'melody-driven' mindset (even though I've been warned before). 😔 ...yep, it's hard to tell if it's the off-beats that are emphasized, if there's no reference to 'on-beat' rhythm! 🥴
Figured out something else bothering me...
How much "oom-PAH, oom-PAH, oom-PAH, oom-PAH" is TOO much?
There are some very famous Classical 'Polkas', but 'Polka Op. 123, No. 6', by the French composer Charles Dancla - is THE kind of rhythm that gets on my nerves! The 'oom-PAH' totally dominates the music, like a metronome - would drive me nuts to play this!
🤔... maybe that's why I don't like metronomes - tempo domination! 🤣
I do happen to LOVE listening to Rachmaninov's Italian Polka.
It's crazy, I found some great tunes today (and some strange ones I'll share later) - Polkas, and other 'Polka-type' 2/4 dances... danced all over the World!
Guess I still have to watch for tunes changed/accepted as another dance form, too. Jessie from Club Ceoil - has a 'Pulling Bracken' polka tutorial on fiddle & tin whistle (also have seen others play it as a Polka). But, I learned THIS SAME TUNE as the strathspey, 'Cutting Bracken', from Fiona Cuthill (so using a Scottish Snap)! ...btw, since I have my choice, I'd MUCH rather play it as a strathspey. 😊
Now, I have to start getting ready for FIDDLE HELL!
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wow!
that looks sophisticated and difficult jidging by first screen. havent watched though.
egans more my speed 
hornpipes vs polkas...sounds like you got the counting figured out for yourself! that helps and excited for you!
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So, related to Polkas, Schottis & Reinlender (found several different spellings of each, depending on Country) - might be slower, also played in 2/4 time, but I'm not sure if the off-beat is emphasized. ...if it is, are they no different slower polka music?
The confusing thing... finding many written/played in 4/4. It's hard to learn about these tunes if I'm listening to music in 2/4 and 4/4 - thinking they're supposed to be the same.
Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham video clip
Anyway, makes me think I've heard more than a few 4/4 tunes actually played in 2/4, and vice versa. Jeez, feeling strathspey-ish!
Schottis e. Rättviks Spelmanslag - pdf notation for a Schottis from Boda. Looking at this notation, the emphasis is on the 2nd beat.
I can appreciate the HUGE benefit of playing for dances, but I'm sure I'll just have to listen more!
Hope to end up better than guessing at what I hear - like I can tell the difference between a waltz and a mazurka (just don't ask me what 'kind' of waltz 🥴).
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Been watching/listening to many more Polkas - mostly Bavarian/Austrian, some in Denmark & found some new groups I want to follow!
A couple of really BIG Polka Parties...
Cool to see 'chopping' used on the fiddle for a polka - seems a perfect fit!
Polka Loca (Violin and Guitar) Thread - some surprises!
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Back when the Nordic Threads were started, I fell in love with the Ievan Polka (5 Levels of Ievan Polkka: Noob to Vibing) - it even became an earworm.
Liz's video (in the OP) showed me there could be much more to Polkas than I originally thought, so I set out to find ones that suit 'me'. It's been worth it, because I've run across some great tunes & some that still puzzle me.
The Gortnatubrid Polka - composed by Séamus Creagh (also wrote the Connie in The Pool Polka). There's a video of Séamus playing both polkas if you follow the 1st link to The Session notation settings. Here's a tutorial by Benoit Volant.
Polka for Violin and Piano - from the incidental music to "The Census List" arranged for violin and piano by Alfred Schnittke.
Okay, now I'm really fired up!
...no surprise, I like tunes that ditch the major key & vary in tempo. 😁
Anyone want to share a favorite Polka? I'd love to know what others like about Polkas!
Anyone DANCE a Polka?
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