A Polka and Sea Serpent

The polka was introduced to the world in 1835 in Prague. This form of dance, and music, has a Czechoslovakian origin in peasant dance, and is a fast paced duple time pattern. While we know of the polka these days through modern interpretations, such as popular singer and artist Weird Al Yankovic and Steve Urkel from the television show “Family Matters” (1989-1998), the music itself has rich heritage and is still danced and orchestrated for.

In 1825, the Austrian pianist, singer and impresario MORTIZ STRAKOSCH was born. He later died in Paris, France on October 9, 1887. Having received a classical training in Vienna, Strakosch traveled throughout Europe from the age of 11 on. In 1845 he came across the ocean to America where he continued as a pianist and composer. He would become the director of the Italian Opera in New York in 1859 and was influential in introducing musicians and singers of the day to wider audiences, including Clara Louise Kellogg. Strakosch produced various pieces of the years, and is perhaps best known for the opera Giovanna de Napoli from 1850. However, Strakosch did write at least two polkas during this same period in history, and therein lies the connection to cryptozoology and a little known musical piece that is over 150 years old.

In 1850 the “SEA SERPENT POLKA” was published by the GP Reed & Co., with lithography by J.W. Buford. This lithography shows a sea serpent in an oceanic bay, quite possibly the Nahant Bay area in Massachusetts. The Nahant, and surrounding areas, were locations of “sea serpent” reports throughout the 19th century and were well known through the world at that time.

Of course the SEA SERPENT POLKA is not the only musical cryptozoology collection. But, it is a little known example of a popular culture representation.

Do you know of more music inspired by CRYPTOZOOLOGY?