His father, a musician and manufacturer brass instruments, taught him to play music.

[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.