Eduard Wagnes

Eduard Wagnes (18 March 1863 in Graz, Austria – 27 March 1936 in Bad Gams, Austria) was a conductor in the Austro-Hungarian Military, and composer of military marches. His most famous composition was "Die Bosniaken Kommen", composed in 1895.

Eduard Wagnes
Eduard Wagnes, composer Park by Pfarrkirche.
Born	March 18, 1863 (Austrian Empire) Graz, Austrian Empire
Died	March 27, 1936 (Austria) Bad Gams, (Austria)
Citizenship	Austria-Hungary
Known for	"Die Bosniaken Kommen (March)"

Biography

Wagnes was born 18 March 1863 in Austria. His father, a musician and manufacturer brass instruments, taught him to play music.^[1] Wagnes was accepted into the Styrian Music Association music school at age 7 and learned the French horn; at age 15, he became first horn player at the Graz City Theater. He was later a solo horn player in Eduard Strauss's orchestra.^[2] He served in the Austro-Hungarian Army from 1885 to 1889.^[3]

Wagnes was later appointed bandmaster of the second Bosnian infantry regiment, where he composed several marches. The best-known of these, "Die Bosniaken Kommen," was adopted as the regiments' de facto march and remains a popular Austrian composition.^[4] He would ultimately write around 300 pieces, primarily marches but also including waltzes, a mass, and three operettas.^[2]

Wagnes was admired by Gustav Mahler, who wanted to hire him as a horn player, and by King Ludwig III. He received the Golden Cross of Merit with the Crown, and a street in Graz was named after him.^[2]

He died 27 March 1936.^[3]

Compositions

• Die Bosniaken kommen - 1895
• Flitsch Marsch - 1928
• Felsenfest für's Vaterland - 1932
• Helden von Meletta - 1932
• Ausseer Buam
• Durch dick und dünn
• Für Freiheit und Ehr
• Hand in Hand
• Heldenhaft Marsch
• Mit eisener Kraft
• Ritterlich
• Zum Schutz und Trutz

Dramatic music

• 1910 Alt-Wien, operette - libretto: Ferdinand Maierfeld-Enter
• 1911 Die Klosterprinzessin, operette - libretto: Hans Pflanzer