"We are from the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment Hoch- und Deutschmeister No. 4"

With its unmistakable sound in the high Viennese style, the "Original Hoch- und Deutschmeister" Band of the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment Hoch- und Deutschmeister No. 4 faithfully recreates the authentic sound of Austro-Hungarian military music!

On May 1, 1741, all of Milan was in a state of excitement. A military parade was taking place that day, and for the first time, a military band was to perform: the band of the Hoch- und Deutschmeister! Since then, the Hoch- und Deutschmeister have not only been a representative of the military, but the band has also gradually become a peaceful interpreter of the finest Viennese musical culture, both at home and abroad. Numerous international successes of the Hoch- und Deutschmeister Band attest to its prestige, including two guest appearances at World's Fairs: At the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, a civilian band performed in historical Deutschmeister uniforms (with imperial permission) under the direction of the then Hoch- und Deutschmeister Bandmaster, Carl Michael Ziehrer, who had specifically requested leave of absence. This performance significantly enhanced his reputation, and his works are still acclaimed at the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert today. In 1910, a Deutschmeister Band performed at a World's Fair for the second time, this time in Buenos Aires. With financial support from the Berndorf metal industrialist Arthur Krupp, the full regimental band, under Bandmaster Wilhelm Wacek, was able to tour South America for several months!

With the end of the First World War, the Hoch- und Deutschmeister Band was temporarily silenced. In 1927, the last Austro-Hungarian... Bandmaster Wilhelm Wacek was responsible for the (civilian) revival of the old Hoch- und Deutschmeister band as the official ensemble of the then-influential Deutschmeister League, which admitted only former Deutschmeisters and had several thousand members. Previously, numerous imposter "Deutschmeister bands" with musicians who had never actually been Deutschmeisters had misused the prestigious name "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" in an unethical manner, causing great resentment among the veteran musicians.

From around 1931, the renowned Julius Herrmann, later dubbed the "tin Furtwängler" by newspapers, succeeded Wacek as conductor of the famous orchestra. He immediately achieved great success, but the Second World War brought a severe curtailment of musical activities. He reunited his Deutschmeister band as late as the end of April 1945. During Herrmann's long tenure, numerous recordings were made, combining an unparalleled Viennese musical interpretation with recording techniques that were modern for the time. The sheer number of recordings is almost impossible to count. Herrmann and his orchestra performed at numerous Viennese balls: in 1956, Julius Herrmann conducted the Deutschmeister at the first Vienna Opera Ball after the Second World War, one of the most prestigious balls in the world. Furthermore, three successful multi-month tours were undertaken in the late 1950s and early 1960s under the title "Vienna on Parade," under the patronage of Chancellors Dr. Julius Raab and Dr. Alfons Gorbach completed these tours, which were choreographed by Marcel Prawy. The Hoch- und Deutschmeister were the first German-language orchestra to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York, even before Ernst Mosch and his famous Egerländer musicians. Another highlight occurred in 1961 at the historic meeting between Kennedy and Khrushchev in Vienna: US President Kennedy requested the "Kaiserjäger March" from the Hoch- und Deutschmeister under Herrmann's direction. The band was also frequently featured on numerous television programs: a dedicated show entitled "Wiener Parade der Deutschmeister," "Sing mit mir - Spiel mit mir," "Seniorenclub," "Wünsch dir was," "Zum blauen Bock," "Musik ist Trumpf," "Anneliese Rothenberger gibt sich die Ehre," and many more. For his contributions to Austria's musical tradition, Julius Herrmann was awarded the title of "Professor" by the Federal President. The Original Hoch- und Deutschmeisterkapelle continued to play on numerous occasions until Herrmann passed away on February 14, 1977.

The now leaderless core musicians, under the interim direction of bandmaster and flautist Herrmann Ferdinand Kastner, decided in March 1977 to found an association, which continues to this day as the "Original Hoch- und Deutschmeister" Band of the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment Hoch- und Deutschmeister No. 4. The name "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" was trademarked at that time to protect it from misuse. After two rehearsals, Kastner resigned as bandmaster and resumed playing the flute under the new bandmaster, Professor Horst Winter, a renowned musician and bandleader. The band remained a musical ambassador for Austria and toured in Germany, Switzerland, Spain (1982 FIFA World Cup), and Finland. During the papal visits of 1983 and 1988, the band served as Austria's musical ambassador and also performed on numerous television programs (including two appearances on Musikantenstadl, 1000 Takte Marschmusik with Carolin Reiber, the Caterina Valente Show, Lehár Express, Die verflixte 7 with Rudi Carrell, ARD Wunschkonzert, Fröhlich am Samstag, Österreich-Bild am Sonntag, Klingendes Österreich, Willkommen Österreich, Das Super-Wunschkonzert der Volksmusik, Österreich heute, Seitenblicke, etc.). In 1989, the band accompanied the funeral procession of the late Empress Zita. Furthermore, the band was awarded the Robert Stolz bust and the Hermann Löns Medal in Gold.

After Winter, Professor Ottokar Drapal, the long-time principal clarinetist of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and also our long-time deputy bandmaster, became the new bandmaster, but his tenure was sadly cut short by a serious illness. After brief interludes by conductors Karl Hirschvogel and Prof. Leopold Ramser, Reinhold Nowotny has led the orchestra continuously since New Year's Eve 1999. Several television appearances have been made under Nowotny's direction (Spring in Vienna, No Finer Land with Günter Wewel, Hubsi's World, Street of Songs).

Under the direction of conductor Reinhold Nowotny, who has now led the Deutschmeister for over 25 years, the band quickly built upon its earlier successes. From 2004 onwards, the band gained considerable renown both at home and abroad with the revived musical component of the daily changing of the guard ceremony ("Burgmusik") in the inner courtyard of the Vienna Hofburg Palace, based on historical precedent. They have also performed at the Bluval Festival Straubing, the Imperial Ball at the Vienna Hofburg, the Fête Imperial – Ball of the Spanish Riding School, the Chorin Music Summer, at the Brucknerhaus Linz, the Innsbruck Promenade Concerts, and at the Kassel State Theatre. In 2010, the Deutschmeister were invited to participate in the parade celebrating the 200th anniversary of Munich's Oktoberfest, accompanying Mayor Christian Ude.

In recent years, the Deutschmeister have frequently toured Germany, performing acclaimed concerts in numerous venues – sometimes to audiences exceeding a thousand – in historic settings! The band has performed concerts at Heidecksburg Castle (Rudolstadt), Weimar City Palace, Friedenstein Castle (Gotha), Altenburg Castle, and Hubertusburg Castle in Wermsdorf, Saxony's answer to Schönbrunn Palace. In 2017, they were invited to the renowned "Bläserfreundschaft" concert series in Pocking, Bavaria. In 2018, Karl Merkatz, who played Mundl, praised the Hoch- und Deutschmeister Band, saying, "I like what you do!" Richard Lugner has frequently invited the Hoch- und Deutschmeister Band: they accompanied him during his 2016 presidential campaign and also provided musical accompaniment for his guests at the Vienna Opera Ball in Austria. The original Hoch- und Deutschmeister Band has even been conducted by actresses such as Goldie Hawn, Melanie Griffith, Ornella Muti, Jane Fonda, and Priscilla Presley! In 2024, the Deutschmeister had the honor of performing the "Radetzky March" in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral for the last time.

The Deutschmeister weathered the COVID-19 pandemic unscathed and, in 2021, celebrated the 280th anniversary of the band's first documented mention with concerts in front of Schönbrunn Palace. In 2022, they held a commemorative event marking the 100th anniversary of C.M. Ziehrer's death. In 2023, they gave concerts in front of Belvedere Palace (its 300th anniversary), and in 2024, the band was invited to Artstetten Castle to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Franz Ferdinand's assassination. In 2025, the Deutschmeister played at Otto Schenk's funeral and at Munich's Oktoberfest. In 2026, the Hoch- und Deutschmeister celebrated their 330th anniversary, and the band itself celebrated its 285th anniversary!