The Waltz

In this episode of "In Our Time" from BBC Radio 4, host Robert Douglas-Fairhurst leads a discussion with Susan Jones, Derek Scott, and Theresa Buckland about the history, social impact, and cultural significance of the waltz. They explore its origins in Germanic lands, its revolutionary close embrace, and its spread through various levels of society, from the court to small towns. The panel discusses the waltz's association with sensuality and moral concerns, its evolution in music and dance styles, and its influence on literature and other art forms, including ballet and modernism. They also touch upon the waltz's role in expressing both unity and fragmentation within society, and its enduring appeal across different cultures and eras.