Berner Liedertafel

Polka is a lively Central European couple dance and musical style in a brisk 2/4 meter, characterized by its buoyant “oom‑pah” bass-chord accompaniment and bright, diatonic melodies. Originating in Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic) in the early 19th century, it quickly became a pan-European craze before taking root across immigrant communities in the Americas. Ensembles typically feature accordion or button box/concertina, clarinet or saxophone, trumpets/trombone, tuba or string bass, and drum kit, with regional variants highlighting different lead voices and rhythmic feels. While the classical ballroom tradition codified polka into formal strains (often AABB with a contrasting trio), folk and popular styles favor singable tunes, simple I–IV–V harmonies, and tempos commonly around 115–135 BPM, inviting upbeat social dancing and communal celebration.

Alpine yodeling is a vocal folk tradition from the Swiss, Austrian, and Bavarian Alps in which singers rapidly alternate between chest voice and head voice/falsetto to produce wide interval leaps and echo-like calls. Rooted in herders’ long-distance communication, it later became a stylized musical practice with wordless refrains (Juchzer; Zäuerli/Rugguusseli) and strophic songs (Jodellied) whose verses alternate with yodeled refrains. Performances range from solo calls to duos and large choirs (Jodlerklub), and are often sung in Swiss German or related Alpine dialects. Accompaniment commonly features Schwyzerörgeli (Swiss diatonic accordion), zither, guitar, upright bass, alphorn, and hammered dulcimer (Hackbrett). Rhythms frequently reflect Ländler dance meters (notably 3/4) alongside 2/4 marches; harmonies favor major modes, drones, and open fifths to project across open valleys.