Annotation:Hohnstock’s Polka

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HOHNSTOCK'S POLKA. AKA - "Miss Adele Hohnstock's Favorite Polka." American, Polka (2/4 time). G Major (1st and 3rd parts), D Major (2nd and 4th parts) & C Major (5th part). Standard tuning (fiddle). ABCDE. Composed by German-born pianist Adele Hohnstock (d. 1856), "as performed with great applause at all their [i.e. with violinist brother Carl or Charles Hohnstock] concerts on the piano-forte by Miss Adele Hohnstock." The original piece consists of introduction and theme plus three variations that require some considerable technique from the pianist to perform well. Simplified versions appear in several 19th century publications, for dancing. Boston publisher Elias Howe used the polka for the fourth figure of his "Star Polka Quadrille."

The Hohnstocks (mother, Adele and Carl) came to the United States in 1848 from Brunswick, Germany, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., soon entering the musical world of that city. As Carl's obituary in Brainard's Musical World (Oct., 1889) remarked, "They were truly artists, both by nature and attainments, while their characters were such, that one could no help admire them." Adele died of consumption, and Carl returned to Brunswick when the American Civil War broke out, where he continued to compose.

Source for notated version:

Printed sources: Howe (Musician's Omnibus No. 1), 1862; p. 59.

Recorded sources:

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