Polka which hosts/produces the Grammy Awards, announced that it was eliminating the polka category. The Academy's official reason for eliminating the polka award was “to ensure the awards process remains representative of the current musical landscape.” The Academy's decision stems from the declining number of popular polka albums considered for an award in recent years. For example, out of the five polka albums nominated for an award in 2006, only one album was widely distributed in the mainstream. Polka The polka is originally a Czech dance and genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas. It originated in the
Polonaise de Concert, Op. 4 (Wieniawski) It is a popular violin showpiece for its melodic beauty and technical virtuosity. Polonaise de Concert, Op. 4 (Wieniawski) Polonaise Brillante (Polonaise de Concert) Op. 4 is the first of two polonaises composed by the Polish violin virtuoso Henryk Wieniawski. It was written in two versions: for violin with piano accompaniment, and for violin and orchestra. The version known to us today was published in Germany in 1853 as Polonaise de Concert in D major. However it was originally sketched out in 1848, by a thirteen year old Wieniawski. It was dedicated to the Polish virtuoso violinist Karol Lipiński. It