• unspecified Salon Orchestra of Karel Komzák: participating orchestra
• Large Salon Orchestra of Komzák: participating orchestra

Mercy’s Anzeiger 12/3/1857 reported that ‘At the third Musical garland taking place on Sunday 15th March in the Konvikt Hall will be a contest for honour and prize between the two salon orchestras of Mr Karl Komsak [Komzák]. As prize a baton will be awarded. This will be given for the most excellent performance of Flotow’s Overture [to the opera] Martha and for gaining the most applause.’ A large advertisement was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 12/3/1857 announcing: ‘Konvikt Hall. Sunday 15th March 1857 the 3rd Musical Garland and great Contest for honour and prize [3. musikalische Kränzchen und grosser Kampf um Ehre und Preis] between the 2 Salon Orchestras of Kapellmeister Mr Carl Komsak [Karel Komzák]. As Baton constitutes the prize. The prize is will be received by the orchestra that better performs Flotow’s Overture to the opera Martha, and which gains the most applause. Advance tickets costing 10kr are available from the music shop of Robert Veit at [the building] “zum Beethoven” in the New Alley Nr.116 [Neue Allee - Nové alej]. Commencing at 7 o’clock. Ending at 12 o’clock. Admission at the box office 12kr. The programme of compositions that are to be performed by the large orchestra of Mr Carl Komsak, may be obtained from the box office.’ The advertisment was published again in the newspaper on 14th and 15th March.

The Vergnügungsanzeiger of Mercy’s Anzeiger 15/3/1857 noted: ‘Today Sunday... Konvikt Hall: [Musical-]Garland.’ No further details were given by this source.

This event is notable for the content between two ‘salon orchestras’ of Komzák. The Prague Kapellmeister was director and organiser of more than one salon orchestra at this time. Not only in 1857 did he re-organize and begin to direct the orchestra of the Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps, the ensemble effectively becoming his own private orchestral ensemble, but he directed too his own then long-standing private salon orchestra. During the late 1850s this split into two and later three smaller ensembles for performance of popular social musical entertainments in Prague restaurant, inn and café venues. These ensembles combined into one larger orchestra for more important and substantial events. Evidently from the specified Mercy’s Anzeiger advertisment, on this occasion the event in the main comprised performances by the combined ensemble but featuring as part of the programme and undoubtedly as an additional attraction to the public, the division into the two smaller ensembles and ‘contest.’ Interestingly, it was soon after this occasion that Komzák’s ensembles began to be more distinctly identified and advertised; possibly the event established more definitely what were later usually termed his ‘First’ and ‘Second’ Salon Orchestras. However, the probability is that performing at a wide range of venues and events the musicians employed by Komzák were interchangable between his various groups.