Polka 2000: Old Songs For A New Century

During the summer of 1998, Wisconsin polka musicians were in the spotlight as never before. On stage at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC and at the Wisconsin Folklife Festival in Madison, new audiences had an opportunity to hear and dance to these accomplished performers. Among the artists were Steve Meisner, Karl Hartwich, Mark Dombrowski and Marie Kubowski, some of the younger generation of polka musicians, now truly come of age. In the heart of their musical careers, these thirty-something aged musicians were filmed in lively outdoor performances. In the program, they discuss their music’s past and future and offer us a rare treat—intimate unplugged solo and duo performances that provide an up-close view of their artistry. The unplugged performances include a new composition by accordion standout Steve Meisner, Karl Hartwich’s inventive concertina improvisations on old tunes, and nineteenth century Polish house party music by siblings Mark and Marie on clarinet and concertina.