US Marine Band

What an excellent ensemble!  It's the excitement of a circus, a crowd, a festival. For me, this is fantastic and joyous music that isn't merely 'patriotic'.

The complete Sousa marches are available as free MP3 downloads:
https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/

Many of these videos play with full scores:
https://www.youtube.com/user/usmarineband

I'm trying to learn Semper Fidelis as a concertina solo - - it's going to take me a while!

Mariechen Waltz

This was Whoopee John's theme song for many years. For me, it has a musical depth not often associated with polka music.

Here's the Whoopee John band under the direction of Vern Steffel. I'm guessing that means it's after Willfahrt's death in '61:

Here's a version that I am guessing predates Whoopee John's:

Here's one from 1909, maybe the oldest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUh9I4ynFv8

A slow one for Steirische Harmonika students https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNn3gukWNU

nice longhair Steirische solo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XXjuxF4ysQ 

another Steirische version with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XWX2F8-ekY

Wayne Ripke band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvEcoifWOsE

Choppmotorrad Freunde Musikanten

Curtis sent me this version of Trumpetten Echo:

The group's name translates to something like 'chopper motorcycle musician friends'.  They're people, and they make music, so that's good. I'm not going to judge beyond that. I can  imagine being there, and wanting out. Actually they sound pretty good. They've got bandoneons!

Here's a longer video.

Moravanka

The musicianship is strong with the popular Czech band Moravanka! Wonderful music.

German marches

I haven't posted for a while, but be assured, I have been enjoying plenty of polkas, waltzes, marches and laendlers.

Here we have some classic german marches, with lyrics!
Don't let the military connotations spoil it for you. Most of these lovely tunes pre-date the horrors of the 20th century.