The varied harmonies and poignant dissonances make this a rewarding musical experience for mature players. It begins with a haunting refrain in the violas and cellos which becomes the accompaniment for a plaintive melody featuring the first violins. Following this opening melody, the work takes a harmonic turn to an unrelated major key where the mood changes from one of lost opportunities to a sense of warm nostalgia. A brief canonic interlude leads us back to the opening refrain and melody, now to conclude the musical journey in a satisfying major key.