At Carnegie Hall in New York last year a populär concert took place with Standing room only, writes LF Tvrdik.
On March 21, 2002, Josef Vejvoda, one of the sons of famous composer, Jaromir Vejvoda conducted a concert with the Prague Castle Guard and the Czech Republic Police Band which included his father's famous hit, the polka Skoda lasky (Beer Barrel Polka). It marked the hundredth anniversary of composer's birth and the occasion when 73 years ago, he wrote the tune which now belongs among the most famous melodies in the world. In America it was adopted in an altered form as Beer Barrel Polka. The Allied soldiers also sang it, General Eisenhower knew it When he visited Prague in 1945, it is said he thanked Jaromir Vejvoda with the words: "Your song helped win the war against Hitler." The polka was first played in the USA in 1939 after two local arrangers Wladimir A. Timm and lyricist Lew Brown Americanised it "It got into hands of two Professionals who made the basic changes as compared to the Czech form and they helped the song; they changed the ending, which has fewer notes and the melody goes up; they gave it up-beat lyrics full of American optimism", Vejvoda junior explained. Beer Barrel Polka has sold more than a million records and in 1987 the Americans issued a stamp commemorating it. The tune was recorded in the USA by many popular orchestras such as Glen Miller, Harry James, Benny Goodman and Billie Holiday. According to Vejvoda, one of its most famous disks was that of the Andrews Sisters. In Bohemia, it was known under different names, first as Rosamunde, later as Modrany polka, before it settled on Skoda lasky. According to a public opinion survey it is among the most popular Czech hit songs of the 20th Century. Apart from Beer Barrel Polka Vejvoda composed many others which are recorded on CDs and now available in the UK.
Contact L.F. Tvrdik 01623 478426, e-mail: enquiries® robin hood.emnet.co.uk