Prague Concert Life, 1850-1881

Event title:

Annual Law Students' Ball [Juristenball]

Venue: Žofín Island (Žofín Hall)

Event type: Popular social musical and dance events

Date: 24/02/1862

Season: Carnival

Programme comprising:

General participants:
  • Orchestra of the Prague Civil Sharpshooters Corps: participating orchestra
  • KOMZÁK, Karel: director of ensemble, conductor
NOVÁK, Václav : kvapík [galop] Ráz na ráz (Blow by blow), orch
STRAUSS, Johann Baptist : quadrille Chansonetten, orch, op.259
SPENSE, K. Baron : polka Hylinka, orch
KOMZÁK, Karel : Polka mazurka Naším děvám (To our girls)
LÁDE, ? : quadrille Na Prahu (To Prague), orch
STRAUSS, Johann Baptist : Furioso-polka quasi Galopp La Furiosa, op.260
KARÁSEK, ? : kvapík [galop] Vichor (Whirlwind), orch
TIEGL, ? : Polka tremblante [Třesavka] Žanynka, orch
HRUŠ, Leopold : quadrille on Slavic folksongs Slávia
BLÁHA, Filip Vilém : Polka tremblante [Třesavka] Růženka, orch

Commentary:

The date of this event was reported by Národní listy, Dalibor and Bohemia in conjunction with their noting the date of the rehearsal that took place on 16th February. Národní listy 16/2/1862 reported: ‘Musical rehearsal to Ball of Czech Law Students will take place today at 3.30pm in Žofín Hall. The programme of musical compositions, which will in their entirity be performed by Komzák’s orchestra, has its own particular interest in that it is comprised wholly of new pieces. Six of which were dedicated to Czech law students in Prague University. Programme is as follows: 1. Ráz na ráz [Blow after blow], kvapík by Novák. 2. Charsonettes, quadrille by Strauss. 3. Hylinka, polka tremblante by K. Baron Spense. 4. Našim děvám, polka mazur by Komzák. 5. Na Prahu, quadrille by Laade. 6. La furiosa, polka by Strauss. 7. Vichor, kvapík by Karáska. 8. Žanynka, polka tremblante by Count z Tieglu. 9. Slávia, quadrille by Hruš. 10. Růženka, polka tremblante by Blaha.’ 

Lumír 13/2/1862 announced that the ‘Ball of Czech Law Students, to which the our elegant young society looks forward, will be on 24th February on Žofín [Island].’ The programme for the occasion almost certainly comprised the works performed in the earlier trial that were listed in the Národní listy 16/2/1862 report.

This event apparently contrasted from previous years’ annual balls given in aid of this cause in that it was specifically Czech focussed. This was outlined in the review of the earlier musical trial that was published by Lumír 20/2/1862.

Lumír 27/2/1862 published a detailed, unsigned review of this event. The correspondent remarked that the ‘Ball for Czech Law Students, as we anticipated, turned out to be splendid, yes it was without doubt the most magnificent public ball of this year’s carnival. Both halls on Žofín Island where very fittingly decorated: the great [hall] with white and blue drapes, affixed with numerous red and other-coloured flowers. In the great Hall were statues of Vlasta, Havlíček, Jungmann; in the smaller busts of Karel [Charles], 


Summary of sources:

Lumír (13/02/1862)
Bohemia (14/02/1862)
Národní listy (16/02/1862)
Lumír (20/02/1862)