Bruckner composed Der deutsche Gesang on 29 April 1892 for the Erstes deutsch-akademisches Sängerfest (First German-academic singers' festival), which would happen in Salzburg in June 1892.

[1] The piece, also called Das deutsche Lied, was performed several times till the years 1930.

Wie durch Bergtal dumpf grollt Donnergedröhn, Wie der Sturmwind saust um waldige Höhn, Wie die Meeresflut tost an klippigem Strand, So schalle, so schmett’re, die Feinde zu schrecken, Die schlafferen Brüder vom Schlafe zu wecken, Der deutsche Gesang durchs gefährdete Land!

As the thunder rumbles through mountain vallies, As the storm wind tosses the wooded heights, As the sea's flood roars on the craggy coast, So breaks, so blares, to frighten the foemen, To waken the slumbering brothers from sleeping, German song through the land under threat!

The 87-bar long work in D minor, which shows affinities with the patriotic Germanenzug (1863), Sängerbund (1882) and Helgoland (1893),[1] is scored for TTBB choir and brass instruments (4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones and contrabass-tuba).