Instrumentation: strings: 5 violas, 4 cellos and 3 contrabasses

Although it was conceived as a single movement (molto largo e misterioso), three divisions are apparent: the quasi-declamatory introduction for trumpet alone (with a "plunger" mute for a 'rougher' sound), followed by the main body of the work where the trumpet (open) starts low and works its way progressively into the high range, within the subtle texture of quivering low strings, to attain a flamboyant and lyrical climax. In the last section the strings (violas and cellos) disappear into the ex...