Eduard Strauss (1835 - 1916) was an Austrian composer who, together with brothers Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss made up the Strauss musical dynasty. His popularity was overshadowed by that of his elder brothers. Realizing this, he stamped his own mark with the quick polka, known in German as the 'Polka-schnell'. 'Bahn frei' is one of the most well known compositions in this genre.