At the age of 17, on April 3, 1841, Bedřich Smetana compiled a catalogue of his works, deliberately excluding earlier "childish attempts." At that time, his catalog included two polkas for string quartet and piano pieces such as the Louisiana Polka, which he composed in Nové Město. The beauty and charm of this polka so impressed Smetana that he played it again and again without ever growing tired of it. The polka held a special place in his heart and was idealized by him with great devotion.
When Smetana composed the polka in 1840, this straightforward dance style was considered novel and had only become popular in Prague ballrooms since the 1830s. In the following years, the polka also gained popularity among Viennese composers such as Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss I. Smetana himself greatly valued the polka and enthusiastically breathed new life into its form.
Despite health problems that eventually led to deafness, Smetana approached his publisher in 1879 and expressed his wish to continue publishing his new piano pieces under the title 'Polkas'. Although this was only partially fulfilled, the collection was published with the subtitle 'Bohemian Dances: Four Polkas for Piano'.
These four polkas reflect Smetana's efforts to refine the polka, much like Chopin did with the mazurka. Each polka is characterized by its own creative independence, blending folkloric elements with virtuosic compositional technique. The works combine traditional influences with Smetana's innovative ideas.
Following these polkas, Smetana turned to other Bohemian folk dances in a further series of 'Bohemian Dances'. Inspired by Dvořák's 'Slavonic Dances', he composed pieces such as the 'Furiant' and the 'Sousedská'. Smetana's deep engagement with Bohemian music and the influences of his surroundings led him to create timeless works deeply rooted in his homeland.
Among his piano works, the Bohemian Dances hold a special place, as they are composed in the national style and reflect Smetana's profound connection to his homeland. They offer an intimate glimpse into the Bohemian spirit and have influenced subsequent generations of composers, including Leoš Janáček, for whom Smetana was a prominent musical figure.