• Civil Musical Ensemble: participating ensemble
• SVOBODA, František Václav: director of ensemble

Der Tagesbote 13/12/1854 reported that ‘Next Sunday takes place in the Žofín Island Hall with Swoboda’s Orchestra [Svoboda’s Civil Musical Ensemble], the performance of the 5 dance pieces for the 1855 Carnival that have been awarded prizes by music publisher of Marco Berra. The works will be played by Swoboda’s Orchestra and then the names of the prize-winning composers publicly made known. The next-best compositions will then be performed too.’ No further details were given by this source. On 22/12/1854 the same newspaper relayed details of the the winning composers; these works form the basis of the event record programme.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 13/12/1854 also published advanced news of this event, announcing that ‘The five prize-winning dances together with the next-best compositions from the competition of the music shop of Marco Berra for the 1855 Carneval will be performed next Sunday in the Hall of Žofín Island by the Civil Orchestra of Kapellmeister Swoboda [Svoboda].’ An advertisement for this event appeared in this issue of Mercy’s Anzeiger and repeated in the issues of 16/12/1854 and 17/12/1854 noting ‘Sunday 17th December takes place at 5pm in the Hall of Žofín Island from Swoboda’s Orchestra The Prize-performance of dance compositions composed for the 1855 Carneval, with the winners announced. Commencing 5 o’clock. Admission 12 kr. The programme will be available at the box office. The Hall will be cleared for the event, and in the gallery food will be available. The winning compositions will be available to purchase in an Album by the music publisher Marco Berra.’

The Vergnügungsanzeiger of Mercy’s Anzeiger 17/12/1854 announced: ‘Today Sunday... On the Žofín Island: Great musical Prize entertainment through Mr Swoboda’s Civil Ensemble.’

A review of this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 18/12/1854. The correspondent announced ‘The Prize-performance of compositions for the 1855 Carneval took place yesterday evening in the Hall of the Žofín Island, with a numerous, attentive, and visibly satisfied public following the works in all respects successfully performed on the part of the Civil Ensemble of Director Swoboda. As regards the individual compositions, almost all of them had to be repeated. The Quadrille in the second part [of the occasion] gained particular applause, having to be played thrice in a row following increasingly vociferous applause from the audience. A regretable misfortune occurred in the performance of a Mazurka, in which a gentleman about thirty-years old suddenly collapsed and had to be carried out unconscious. It was 8 hours before the numerous audience dissipated from the production.’

Mercy’s Anzeiger 22/12/1854 announced the publication of the prize-winning compositions for the competition arranged by Marco Berra for the forthcoming 1855 Carnival. They were: ‘Mr Michl, financial clerk, the first prize (for the Quadrille); Mr Jaksch [Jakš] orchestra director of the Civil Ensemble of Mr Swoboda [Svoboda] the 2nd prize (for the Waltz); Mr Czech from Czechenherz the 3rd prize (for the Polka); Mr Max. Vogl the 4th prize (for the Gallop) and Mr Krahl [Král], chorister of the Royal Estates Theatre, the 5th prize (for the Mazur).’ These pieces would have constituted part of the programme for this trial. The Czech-language periodical Lumír 23/12/1854 also announced the successful compositions awarded prizes in the competition held by the Prague publisher Marco Berra for dance music for the 1855 lenten season.