• Orchestra of the Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps: participating orchestra
• KOMZÁK, Karel: director of ensemble, conductor

News of this event and forthcoming dance entertainments to be given in the New Year Carneval season was first published by Prager Zeitung 21/12/1859. The source reported that ‘Schützenreunionen’ [annual dance evenings given by the Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps] were to take place on 26/1/1860 and on 9/2/1860, and a Ball was arranged for 20/2/1860, all in the Žofín Hall. The text then noted that ‘On 27th December will take place the Musical trial at the said Hall from 6 until 11pm.’ This would include ‘a great Concert-soirée, at which 7 not yet heard prize dances of the renowned composers Gungl, Haag, Mahr, Komsak [Komzák], Jeschko [Ješko], Seifert and Preiss, and an overture from the opera „Les Abencérages“ by Cherubini, a concerto for the clarinet by Kavallini, [a work] for the violin of Aland and a great Potpourri will be performed by the complete augmented String Orchestra of the Sharpshooters’ band.’ On 30/12/1859 Prager Zeitung published an unsigned review of the event, noting that despite adverse weather the occasion drew a numerous audience. As was customary for such a ‘Musikprobe’ [Musical trial] tables were set up in the hall as well as on the gallery, and those present were invited to partake of refreshments, so that the trial was ‘a most pleasant evening entertainment.’ All the pieces that were performed ‘with a rare precision’ by the band of the Sharpshooters met with applause, and individual items had had to be repeated.

Details of the programme to this event were given in two substantial, similar advertisements published by Prager Morgenpost and Bohemia 27/12/1859. In addition to reporting the date, time and venue, the works to be played were listed in order of performance, and the sources also reported that admission cards costing 20kr were obtainable from either the office of the Sharpshooters or from the box office on the day. The Tageskalender of Bohemia 27/12/1859 noted the venue and time of the performance.

The programme is reproduced in the database record according to the specified advertisements. Although Prager Zeitung had previously noted the inclusion of a work by Gungl’ on the programme, no composition by him was included in the advertisement lists, suggesting that the orignally conceived programme had been ammended before it was made public.

During the late 1850s and in the early 1860s the music director of the Sharpshooters orchestra was Karel Komzák. Although none of the specified sources covering the concert mentioned his participation in this event, there is no reason to suppose that he was not present on this occasion.