Dear Zosia
2 questions...
There is a style of song that goes slow and then picks up in beat returning to slow.  My husband refers to it as 'baroque'?   Do you know what he may be referring to?  And if so, can you give us a song or two that represents the style?


Here is my 2nd question... my husband is Polish and from northern Wisconsin.   He actually adds a hop in his polka step - 1,2,3, hop  etc.
Is there a formal name for this extra hop in the polka step?

Marsha shuda

My Dear Marsha,

Zosia is most flattered by these questionings, but she is thinking that perhaps are places more suited for finding exactly technical English wordings.  Is probably easy mistake to make, but you have not noticed that this is not being Zosia's long suit.  Other readers are most welcomes to submit answers to these questions, but Zosia is happy to suggest that perhaps husbands word is fine for that purpose (most handsome gentleman musician friend calls it "tempo change").  Zosia is hearing wonderful examples of these different tempos in songs such as "L'Accordioniste" by Edith Piaf.  
For second answer she will suggest "Wisconsin Hop" for dance naming.
 
Fondest regards,
 
Zosia

Dear Zosia,

I'm looking for the lyrics to the polka "Cyganeczka" as sung by Ania Piwowarczyk.

Is there a place on the net that has the lyrics, or a place that sells sheet music with the lyrics?

Dzienkuje.

Cyr Linonis
 
My Dear Ms Linonis,
 
Zosia must point you to previous letters regarding finding of informations on internet.  But because she is so impressed with your fine tastes in musics, she has taken first step, and will send you to lyric site:
http://www.web-lyrics.com/
Also is site for singing girls with Ania as director.  Perhaps she is willing to help you as well:
http://www.radosc-joy.com/home2
Is most wonderful song, sung by lovely singer.
 
Best wishes and happy huntings,
 
Zosia
 

Dear Zosia,

Is Atomik Harmonik CD "Brazgaaaaj!" available in the USA?
Matt Nosal

My Dear Mr. Matt,
 
Zosia is unaware of such CDs being sold in USA, but are sometimes things that slip past her notices.  She is thinking perhaps this is excellent excuse for trip to Slovenia.  Ljubljana in springtime is most lovely of cities.
 
Best wishes and perhaps bon voyage my fine sir,
 
Zosia

Zosia,
 Do you know of any company that makes pierogi with whole wheat flour? 
 I have to shy away from my most favorite food because of the dough, and I could enjoy peirogi's on a more constant basis if they were made with whole wheat flour.  I limit my carbs. 
Hope you know of a healthy peirogi source.  Thanks
John Z
My Dear Mr Z,
Zosia is not so sure in what locality you are looking for these pierogi.  She is, as discussing below, not so inclined to be Internet searcher, yet yours is very interesting questioning.  Zosia, herself, is most aware of hypoglycemic index and problems it can be causing.  She finds Kind Cafe in Philadelphia makes these items, and also recipe at http://www.recipeland.com/recipe/17813/.  Perhaps you, Mr. John Z, if you are residing far from Philadelphia, might find in your future to be CEO of corporation that will manufacture and send lovely healthful pierogi throughout nation.  If such a thing is going well, you may then expand and make whole wheat dim sum and raviolis and ultimately become Dumpling King.  If this is happening as we are planning, Zosia will be most grateful for small share of profits.
Hoping this will come to be,
Zosia

 I'm sure that Zosia -- curator of all things cultural -- would enjoy this story about the difficulty of finding Latvian beer in the Twin Cities in time for Jani. http://latviansonline.com/index.php/commentary/article/1722/ or
http://tinyurl.com/3dltou

Nostradamus
My Dear Mr. Nostradamus,
Zosia is most appreciating your kindness in sharing these informations.  She is finding much happiness and moral satisfaction in connecting peoples with beer as with foods and music.
Thanking you for your thoughtfulnesses,
Zosia

Dear Zosia
 Where can you purchase german polka sheet music- (schlager/volksmusik) in the US. Or in Europe, but pay in Us funds??
Fred
 
My dear mister Fred,
Zosia is hesitating to answer such a question, even though she is heartily approving of wanting to connect persons with music.  Her reasonings are these:  In days of past, many peoples are asking Zosia questions that are easily solvings with use of search engines.  Zosia is trying this and finds following site http://www.digital-librarian.com/sheet.html.  If other persons reading this are wishing to help you, that is most good, but Zosia recommends that you are going to www.google.com, and typing in words, such being in this case "German" "sheet music" (don't forgetting to use quotes).  She is hoping that results will be most helpful.
Best of luck Mr. Fred

Zosia,
The orgins of polka music are acknowleded to be in the northern Czech area except by the Smithsonian Institute.  They claim that polka music origionated in Poland, basically it was the only area in Eastern Europe where people danced holding each other, which did not occur untill later on in Czechoslovakia.  Which opinion does your crystal ball roll to?

Johnz

My dear sir,

Zosia does not know.  She was not there!

Perhaps you are implying that Zosia is as old as the hills, but Mr Z, she must most grumpily assure you that such is not the case. 

Now that Zosia is slightly more calmer and trying to ignore possible insulting implications of this question she must think somewhat.  Have there not been many variations in the boundaries of European countries so that what was once Poland is now Czech Republic and vice versa?  Is it not so possible that everyone is correct in claiming polka because there are being so many places that were once each other?  Perhaps some most charming and attractive historian experts can give us their studious opinions.

Thanking you for your question, I think,

Zosia

Do you think there will be a Rotondi reunion?
Rotundi fan
Dear Mr. Fan,
Zosia is having to be most careful here.  She is wishing to not be confusing her most fervent desires with her realistic opinions.  This would be most excellent occurence, should it happen.  She suspects that these band members are now at such an age when they will not wanting to stay up so late as they must be doing in rock bands, and maybe this will be such an incentive as to cause them to play polkas once more, as these shows are more often stopping early.
Mr Fan, we must all cross our fingers and hope.
Zosia