Exeter College alumnus publishes book on Hungarian band music in 19th-century Vienna

Exeter College alumnus Dr Jon Banks (1980, Music; 1983, DPhil in Music) has published his latest book Hungarian “Gypsy-Band” Music in Vienna, 1850–1914: The Csárdás Craze. It was published by University of Rochester Press/Boydell and Brewer. 

The book explores the role of Hungarian Romani bands in Viennese musical life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, drawing on extensive archival research. Dr Banks examines how these musicians shaped public taste and influenced prominent composers including Brahms, tracing a complex musical and cultural interchange at the heart of European concert life. 

Alongside his academic work, Dr Banks is an accomplished performer and founding member of the quintet ZRI (Zum Roten Igel), whose fourth album Café Danube was released by Naxos in 2024. The ensemble, known for blending classical repertoire with folk influences, takes inspiration from the lively taverns of old Vienna and Budapest. Their latest recording continues this tradition, reinterpreting works by Brahms, Rossini, Strauss and others through the lens of the café concert. 

ZRI are currently touring Café Danube across the UK and Europe. Their performances echo the themes explored in Dr Banks’s book, highlighting the enduring legacy of musical cross-pollination along the Danube. 

For more about the book, visit Boydell & Brewer. Details of ZRI’s music and tour dates are available at zrimusic.com.