Like the text of Robert Schumann's Romanzen und Balladen volumes, those of his Vier Duette, Op. 78, were also comprised of subjective lyrics and dramatic dialogues, the latter of which easily gave way to entertaining duets, as shown in "Tanzlied," Op. 78/1 (Dance song). With words by Rückert, it has an infectious dance-like quality and is a bit like a waltz. It is a dramatic intertwining of statements between a soprano who encourages dancing and the tenor who replies, and to some, the reckless abandon of the woman and the regretful anxiety of the man is simply too exuberant for the drawing room. If used in a dance setting, participants should listen for a third-related modulation, which signals their shift in partners. The other three songs of the cycle, "Er und sie," Op. 78/2, "Ich denke dein," Op. 78/3, and "Wiegenlied," Op. 78/4, approximately equal in popularity, are much more conservative.

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