• Music Institute of Josef Proksch: participating ensemble

Tagesbote aus Böhmen 04/03/1854 reported that Proksch [Prokš] would this year again be giving a cycle of musical productions presented as ‘three Matinées’ and ‘three Soirées’. Performed would be ‘Trios, Quartets and Quintets for piano in company with string instruments and played by Messrs Professors Goltermann, Pisařowitz, Pepperl and Bartak [probably the violinist and teacher Čeněk Barták]. The Matinées Musicales take place on 5th, 19th March and 2nd April at 4.30pm (they had earlier been announced for 12 noon, but this was problematic for the participants). The Soirées take place on 12th, 26th March and 8th April at 6pm at the Institute.’ Der Tagesbote subsequently published news only of the final Matinée in these series.

Mercy’s Anzeiger 31/3/1854 published a notice entitled ‘Music Gazette. Amendment [Musik-Anzeige. Berichtigung].’ that the ‘3rd and last Matinée for Chamber Music in the Music Institute of J. Proksch will not take place on 8th April, as was stated on the tickets, but on 2nd April, at 4.30pm. In the said [event] will be performed: Quartet by C.M. v. Weber, Quartet by Mendelssohn and Quintet by Schubert.’ No further details were given by this source. The notice was repeated in the newspaper on 1/4/1854 and 2/4/1854.

Tagesbote aus Böhmen 2/4/1854 reported that ‘Today takes place the last of the favourite Matinées of Mr Proksch. The interesting programme contains quartets by Mendelssohn and Weber and a quintet by Schubert.’ No further details were given by the source. The only known quartet with stringed instruments in the output of Weber was his Grand Quatuor for piano, violin, viola and violoncello in B-flat major, op.76. The quartet by Mendelssohn cannot be identified; it may have been a string quartet or one of the three early piano quartets.