The magic of a waltz

So, I wrote about a delightful video yesterday, which — of course, I had to view a few more times today, in company with spouse and friends who I roped in to enjoy it with me.

And it got me to thinking about the magic of 3/4 time, also known as “waltz time”. There’s just something so uplifting about it…

I was recalling a Christmas season many years ago when I still lived in San Francisco. I’ve never been a big fan of large shopping centers and try to avoid them entirely at Christmas time. But for some reason, I was in the Stonestown Galleria and feeling a little frazzled.

Well, as I walked out of Macy’s I realized that Tschaikovsky’s the Waltz of the Flowers was playing over the sound system and immediately started feeling better. Then, as I came down the escalator, two things happened: one, I overheard people humming along to the music, and two, I saw a couple laughing as they danced a few steps together to the music.

Even after all these years I really can’t find the words to describe just how wonderful I felt in that moment — united in joyous harmony with complete strangers through the power of uplifting music!