Ein halbes Jahrhundert (A Half Century)

Ursula says this is a popular tune to play in Germany. This is my favorite version so far, by Blaskapelle Oberschwaben, shown here in the spirit world. Fifty years!

mendocino

Cacahuata aka 'Peanut Polka' last week led me to some Doug Sahm music, which led me to Mendocino. A minor hit for Sahm and his Sir Douglas Quintet; the German version by Michael Holm was the best selling single in Germany for 1969!

The German audience was required to clap. Some of the people after 2:00 aren't looking real happy about it.

Helena polka

another favorite

And here's my arrangement of the Helena Polka in Noteflight so far. 

a biergarten band

The tune is Stern Polka.

The Great Escape for biergarten music?

Somewhat suggested that our small group should try playing the theme to The Great Escape. I think it would work:

The tune works in a simplified arrangement, as this Shamisen version demonstrates:


I wrote it out in Noteflight and we tried it out. The trumpet was in the wrong register and it was a little awkward but I think it could work. Here's the notation if you're interested.

an international Polka hit

In Spanish, La Cacahuata.  

In English: Peanuts Polka.

Youtube has many more good versions of this tune, such as Doug Sahm's, Brave Combo's, Herb Alperts, and the '65 hit by the Sunglows.

Slavko Avsenik

Even if you don't speak German, it's conceivable that you could enjoy this 23 minute special about Slovenian Polka great Slavko Avsenik: