Slovenian-style polka
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Slovenian-style polka (also known as Cleveland Style polka) is an American style of
Instruments
The Slovenian style polka band always includes a piano accordion, chromatic accordion, or the Diatonic button accordion (also called a "button box"). Sometimes an accordion called the Half Chromatic, often abbreviated half-chrom, is used. This accordion has a right side similar to a three-row B-system chromatic accordion, but a bass side similar to the Diatonic button accordion. Some bands in Slovenia use keyboard instead of accordion. The other melody instrument is a saxophone or clarinet, and the rhythm instruments include drums, bass, and guitar or banjo. The Avsenik brothers also add a trumpet to their sound. The Slovenian style polka in the United States of America came about when immigrants from Slovenia taught the old songs to their children. Those children, as adults, translated the old songs from Slovene into English, and arranged them in a polka beat. This began the oral tradition of Cleveland-style polka music.
History
At first, Slovenian style polka was just music for
In addition to Frankie Yankovic, the most important pioneers in developing this style of music include Matt Hoyer, Dr. William Lausche, Johnny Pecon, Lou Trebar, Johnny Vadnal, Eddie Habat, and Kenny Bass.
The music heard during scene transitions on The Drew Carey Show is played in Cleveland-style polka to suit the city it is set in.
Notable musicians
- Slavko Avsenik
- Louis Bashell
- Eddie Blazonczyk
- Tom Brusky
- The Chardon Polka Band
- The Vadnals
- Verne Meisner
- Walter Ostanek