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In this delightful and engaging book, Greene uncovers a wonderful corner of American social history as he traces the popularization of old-time ethnic music from the turn of the century to the 1960s.Not so long ago, songs by the Andrews Sisters and Lawrence Welk blasted from phonographs, lilted over the radio, and dazzled television viewers across the country. Lending star quality to the ethnic music of Poles, Italians, Slovaks, Jews, and Scandinavians, luminaries like Frankie Yankovic, the Polka King, and "Whoopee John" Wilfart became household names to millions of Americans. In this vivid and engaging book, Victor Greene uncovers a wonderful corner of American social history as he traces the popularization of old-time ethnic music from the turn of the century to the 1960s. Drawing on newspaper clippings, private collections, ethnic societies, photographs, recordings, and interviews with musicians and promoters, Greene chronicles the emergence of a new mass culture that drew heavily on the vivid color, music, and dance of ethnic communities.In this story of American ethnic music, with its countless entertainers performing never-forgotten tunes in hundreds of small cities around the country, Greene revises our notion of how many Americans experienced cultural life. In the polka belt, extending from Connecticut to Nebraska and from Texas up to Minnesota and the Dakotas, not only were polkas, laendlers, schottisches, and waltzes a musical passion, but they shone a scintillating new light on the American cultural landscape. Greene follows the fortunes of groups like the Gold Chain Bohemians and national stars like Welk and Yankovic, illuminating the development of an important segment of American popular music that fed the craze for international dance music.And even though old-time music declined in the 1960s, overtaken by rock and roll, a new Grammy for the polka was initiated in 1986. In its ebullience and vitality, the genre endures. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent long overdue source on the American polka movement
Excellent book on ethnic music in America.Of most interest to me is the polka music.The title itself makes you want to read Green's book!Extensive information is given on Frankie Yankovic and the Cleveland-Style, or Slovenian-American-style, polka movement.Other areas and styles are also addressed.This is a MUST READ for anyone interested in polka music! ... Read more

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A lively, delightful collection of best-loved dance music. Includes 50 popular tunes for "having a ball at the piano." ... Read more

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This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more

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The "Waltz King" was one of Vienna's great musical masters of the 19th century. This outstanding collection in our acclaimed World's Great Classical Music Series presents intermediate to advanced solo piano transcriptions of his most famous music: 28 waltzes, polkas and quadrilles. Includes: Artist's Life * The Beautiful Blue Danube * Die Fledermaus Overture * Emperor Waltz * Kiss Waltz * New Vienna * Pizzicato-Polka * Tales from the Vienna Woods * and more. The pieces are faithfully transcribed and newly engraved, and appear in their extensive, complete concert waltz form. Includes a biography of the composer. ... Read more

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Popular polka music. Have a barrel of fun! ... Read more

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Polka Sheet Music. Cover features Guy Lombardo as he recorded for Decca Records. ... Read more

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25 PP 1951 5X8 SHEET MUSIC INCL 18 2 PP POLKAS: MARY LOU, CLARINET, CLAP HANDS, LITTLE BROWN JUG, ELMER'S, ETC, FOR LEAD, 2ND & 3RD PARTS, GUITAR, PIANO, BASS ... Read more

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Illustrated cover in blue and white. Loesser and Delugg also wrote "Hoop-Dee-Doo". For voice, polka tempo. "This is just another polka, just another polka, but oh what a girl in my arms. " ... Read more

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This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more

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Complete measure-for-measure piano transcriptions of the best-known Strauss waltzes, and many favorite polkas, galops, quadrilles and polka-mazurkas, reprinted from authoritative G. Schirmer editions. Included are waltz favorites such as On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Tales from the Vienna Woods, Vienna Blood, Voices of Spring, Roses from the South and the Emperor Waltz. Also included are highlights from Die Fledermaus, the sparkling Pizzicato Polka, the Bayadere galop and One Heart, One Mind polka-mazurka, all ready to delight pianists with their soaring Straussian spirits and haunting rhythms.
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This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more

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23 pages. ... Read more

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3 pages of polka sheet music for the piano. ... Read more

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This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more

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This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more

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6 pages including covers. ... Read more

Product Description
This sheet music was newly engraved from early and authoritative editions. ... Read more