| Eduard Wagnes | |
| Birth Date: | March 18, 1863 (Austrian Empire) |
| Birth Place: | Graz, Austrian Empire |
| Death Date: | March 27, 1936 (Austria) |
| Death Place: | Bad Gams, (Austria) |
| Citizenship: | Austria-Hungary |
| Known For: | "Die Bosniaken Kommen (March)" |
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.
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.
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.
He died 27 March 1936.