Language Selection
Event title:
Musical-pyrotechnic Assembly [Grosse musikalisch-pyrotechnische Assemblée]
Venue: Střelecký ostrov
Event type: Popular social musical and dance events
Date: 28/09/1854
Season: Summer
Benefactor:
Havránek,J.F.
Programme including:
General participants:
- ensemble of the Royal 24th Rifles Battalion: participating ensemble
- STANĚK, J.B.: director of ensemble
Commentary:
An advertisement for this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 25/9/1854 announcing:
‘Thursday 28th September
on the
Shooters Island:
Great musical-pyrotechnical Assemblée,
sincerely invites
J.F. Hawranek,
Pyrotechnician and Chemist.
Details are given on great billboards.’
This issue of Mercy’s Anzeiger also published in its news section of Lokal- und Provinzial-Nachrichten that ‘Mr Hawranek’s previously mentioned pyrotechnic display, which will present several very interesting pieces, takes place on the Žofín Island, namely on 28th September.’ No details of the musical content of this event were noted by either source. The latter text refered to news previously published by the newspaper on 23/9/1854 relating that ‘On request the renowned Pyrotechnician Mr Hawranek will during the course of next week give a great firework display, which will close this year’s summer season. The venue has not yet been specified.’
The advertisement outlined above was published in Mercy’s Anzeiger on 26/9/1854 and 27/9/1854 with supplementary information that ‘For the greater convenience of the public, admission cards at 10kr may be obtained in the Art and Music Shop of Mr Marco Berra (Old Town, Little Charles Street [kleine Karlsgasse]), in Stickel’s Restaurant (New Alley [Neue Allee]), in the Book and Art shop of F. Scheib (Little Quarter) and from the home of the Pyrotechnician Hawranek, Martinsgasse nr.418-1 (until Thursday 12 noon).
The Vergnügungsanzeiger 28/8/1854 of Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/9/1854 announced: ‘Today Thursday: On the Shooters Island great musical-technical Assemblée’. No further details were given by this source.
A review of this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/9/1854. The critic remarked that ‘The Festival yesterday evening for the Prague Kirchweihfest [Church festival] closing the local Summer season and comprising a great musical-pyrotechnic soirée was favoured by the splendid weather. With the coming of twilight began the fireworks display by Mr Hawranek and obviously satisfied the expectant crowds of people. Particularly pleasing were the favourite Kaiser-rockets [Kaiserraketen], the French squealers [französischen Schreppnails], the bombs [Bomben] and the brilliant colours of the resplendent Air-Messengers [Luft-Couriere] and Catherine wheels [Rotationen]. However, most applause was gained this time by the unprecedented Tableau with jets and lances and fire in various colours changing to the music of the Panorama-Potpourri of Pawlis [Pavlis], and the playing of the national anthem. The musical pieces were performed by the ensemble of the Royal 24th Field Rifles Battalion under the direction of Kapellmeister H.W. Staniek.’
The weather during the late summer and autumn of 1854 seems to have been particularly pleasant. Mercy’s Anzeiger 2/10/1854 reported how the warm autumn days had resulted in buds appearing on trees in the Arboretum, in the Canal’s Garden, on the Bastion and elsewhere. In the Neue Allee [Nový alej] the horse chestnuts were said to be in flower. Bats, wasps and cockchafers of the late summer were in abundance with fresh meadow flowers.
on the
Shooters Island:
Great musical-pyrotechnical Assemblée,
sincerely invites
J.F. Hawranek,
Pyrotechnician and Chemist.
Details are given on great billboards.’
This issue of Mercy’s Anzeiger also published in its news section of Lokal- und Provinzial-Nachrichten that ‘Mr Hawranek’s previously mentioned pyrotechnic display, which will present several very interesting pieces, takes place on the Žofín Island, namely on 28th September.’ No details of the musical content of this event were noted by either source. The latter text refered to news previously published by the newspaper on 23/9/1854 relating that ‘On request the renowned Pyrotechnician Mr Hawranek will during the course of next week give a great firework display, which will close this year’s summer season. The venue has not yet been specified.’
The advertisement outlined above was published in Mercy’s Anzeiger on 26/9/1854 and 27/9/1854 with supplementary information that ‘For the greater convenience of the public, admission cards at 10kr may be obtained in the Art and Music Shop of Mr Marco Berra (Old Town, Little Charles Street [kleine Karlsgasse]), in Stickel’s Restaurant (New Alley [Neue Allee]), in the Book and Art shop of F. Scheib (Little Quarter) and from the home of the Pyrotechnician Hawranek, Martinsgasse nr.418-1 (until Thursday 12 noon).
The Vergnügungsanzeiger 28/8/1854 of Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/9/1854 announced: ‘Today Thursday: On the Shooters Island great musical-technical Assemblée’. No further details were given by this source.
A review of this event was published by Mercy’s Anzeiger 28/9/1854. The critic remarked that ‘The Festival yesterday evening for the Prague Kirchweihfest [Church festival] closing the local Summer season and comprising a great musical-pyrotechnic soirée was favoured by the splendid weather. With the coming of twilight began the fireworks display by Mr Hawranek and obviously satisfied the expectant crowds of people. Particularly pleasing were the favourite Kaiser-rockets [Kaiserraketen], the French squealers [französischen Schreppnails], the bombs [Bomben] and the brilliant colours of the resplendent Air-Messengers [Luft-Couriere] and Catherine wheels [Rotationen]. However, most applause was gained this time by the unprecedented Tableau with jets and lances and fire in various colours changing to the music of the Panorama-Potpourri of Pawlis [Pavlis], and the playing of the national anthem. The musical pieces were performed by the ensemble of the Royal 24th Field Rifles Battalion under the direction of Kapellmeister H.W. Staniek.’
The weather during the late summer and autumn of 1854 seems to have been particularly pleasant. Mercy’s Anzeiger 2/10/1854 reported how the warm autumn days had resulted in buds appearing on trees in the Arboretum, in the Canal’s Garden, on the Bastion and elsewhere. In the Neue Allee [Nový alej] the horse chestnuts were said to be in flower. Bats, wasps and cockchafers of the late summer were in abundance with fresh meadow flowers.
Summary of sources:
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (23/09/1854)Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (25/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (25/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (26/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (27/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (28/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (29/09/1854)
Mercy's Anzeiger für Böhmen (02/10/1854)