The nineteenth century witnessed a flood of new developments and applications for electricity as an important new energy source. Perhaps not surprisingly, the subject of electricity is a recurring theme in the titles of the Strauss family's musical compositions: 'Elektrische Funken' (Johann Strauss sr.) 'Electrisch, Polka schnell' (Eduard Strauss). Johann Strauss jr. composed more compositions on this theme. The 'Elektrofor-Polka schnell', which he dedicated to the technical students at Vienna University and in 1852 he composed the 'Electro-magnetische Polka'.