Heinz Holliger composed the three-movement work in January 2016 as funeral music for the legendary flutist Aurèle Nicolet who had died shortly before. The pivotal middle movement sons d'or for bass flute and glass harmonica is preceded by a prelude for flute, oboe, glass harmonica, viola, and violoncello. The après-lude is an intimate chorale, written for bass flute, glass harmonica, viola, and violoncello.