The Czech-language arts periodical Lumír reported in its supplement 21 of 16/5/1854 that ‘To celebrate the visit of His Majesty the Emperor more than a thousand uniformed miners are coming to Prague from the silver mines of Příbram and other mines around Prague.’ In the evening they would undertake a torchlit procession to the Castle where they would sing the national anthem. Lumír 3/6/1854 later reported that ‘From Příbram on 1st June 490 miners with their musical ensemble and with banners travelled to Prague for the local festival.’ They were apparently joined by miners from Hořovice and from Kladno. An account of the procession was published in Supplement 27 of Lumír 1854 on 6/6/1854. The correspondent related this included some 1400 miners carrying torches. At 9pm they marched to the accompaniment of an escort of city musical ensembles to Hradčany, passing over Charles Bridge. In total there were over four thousand participants includig members of the Academic Senate [of the University], Prague elders, the city’s Council, magistrates, shopkeepers, businessmen, members of the Civil Sharpshooters and Civil Grenadiers. ‘Members of the Prague Conservatory and the Žofín Academy performed a festival cantata at the Castle, composed by Kittl to words by Jos. Baier [Bayer]. Before that was played the national anthem, with full-hearted cries of „Vivat!“ „Ať žijou!“ far and wide. After 10pm the procession returned to the Old Town.’

Der Tagesbote 2/6/1854 reported that a torchlit procession was to take place from the Sammelplatz [inner courtyard of the Klementinum] on the evening of 3/6/1854, on the occasion of the state visit of the Emperor Franz Joseph. For this procession the source noted that two marches had been specially composed by Kittl. The procession then passed over ‘Kreuzherrenplatz, Karlsbrücke, Brückengasse, Kleinseitner Ring and Spornergasse [now Křižovnické náměstí, Karlův most, Mostecká, Malostranské náměstí, Nerudova ulice]’ en route to the Castle. It was led by the squires of the Royal Court [Bergknappen] followed by the Civil Grenadiers, the Municipal Council, the Burghers, other civil officials and finally the Civil Infantry Corps. On both sides of the parade were the Civil Sharpshooters. No details were given as to the ensemble performing the music. This was possibly the orchestra of the Sharpshooters who earlier in the day had performed at the arrival of the Royal Party at the station, and which frequently played at local civil and state occasions.

A detailed account of events surrounding the visit of the Emperor was published by Der Tagesbote 5/6/1854. This reported that the parade and the Emperor’s carriage left the Klementinum at 9pm, and described the procession and its participants, although no mention was made of the music performed. A procession also took place after events in the Castle.

The performance on this occasion of Kittl’s Cantata specially written for this event is listed in a separate event record for this same date entitled ‘Performance of Festival Cantata given in Prague Castle on the occasion of the visit of the Emperor Franz Joseph’.