Pizzicato Polka was written in 1869 by brothers Josef and Johann Strauss (Jr), originally for plucked strings and glockenspiel. The polka is a lively dance in 2/4 time which originated in Bohemia but spread rapidly throughout Europe and beyond. The name is believed to derive from pulka, the Bohemian term for half-step, which describes the rapid shifts in weight from one foot to another.

For dancing, a polka would be played at a consistent tempo but concert performances of the Pizzicato Polka traditionally involve significant rubato. Here, the decision is largely left up to the performers.