Polish is the oldest coupledance and was danced by the common people as early as the end of the 18th century.  In the area where I grew up, at least three different types of Polska have been played and danced.  All polska types are of a triplet character and what sets them apart is the rhythm. One is completely even and the other two have an asymmetrical character.  The first tune I will teach is asymmeric and we call it “kort etta”. This means that the first beat is the shortest.  The melody is after a fiddler named Magnus Olsson (1824-1910). He lived in a small village just south of Arvika. The song is called Sparve lelle. (Little bird)

The tune is transribed 1898 by Einar Övergaard. Övergaard was a famous collector of traditional music in the area close to the Norwegian borderline.