• Prague Organ School: pupil(s) of institute, org

AThe Czech-language periodical Lumír 27/7/1854 reported that ‘27th July before noon from 10 until 1 o’clock will be taking plae the practical-theoretical examinations for pupils of the Organists Institute in Bartolomějská ulice in the Konvikt first floor.’ No further details were given by this source.

An unsigned review of the annual examinations of pupils of ‘our distinguished’ Organ School was published by Der Tagesbote 28/7/1854. The correspondent related that the event ‘provided not only in respect of theory honest results, but also in practical playing a selection of highly interesting performances’. The success of the event contributed more to the excellent renown of the institution at home and abroad under its ‘worthy Director Pitsch’. Also deserving of great praise were thought to be the School’s other teachers, Professor Blažek and the Adjunkt Zwonař [Zvonař]. The practical part of the examinations was considered to be notable too in that the Society for the Friends of Church Music [Verein der Kunstfreude für Kirchenmusik- the parent institution of the Organ School] ‘had acquired a new, magnificently made organ by our much merited Jos. Gartner, with double manuals and complete [set of] pedals, upon which the complicated compositions for the instrument were given. Following individual compositional exercises by the pupils, which for the brief time of their course [i.e. the length of time the pupils had been attending the school] demonstrated their astonishing progress, we heard the effective Organ Sonatas no.1 and no.4 by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and two imposing fugues by Seb. Bach.’ No further details about the event were given by the source.