A sad defeated fanfare on a ruined glory of D major, and a string chord hangs like a breath on the air. This master-building in music contains an introduction and three parts conceived on the grandest scale and executed in the grandest manner. The lower strings initiate a baroque bass in D flat, and clarinet, bassoon and viola intone a stark recitative. A full close leads to agitated woodwind tremolandos under the dramatic dirge of unison oboe and cor anglais. The lament becomes more clamorous as clarinets are added and strings take over the tremolando from the woodwind.
Basses darkly echo the lamentation.
After a brief quasi-improvised solo, the brass and low woodwind suggest an E major chorale, the piano commenting with descending scales of chords at every pause, scales echoed by the lower strings, when the piano accompanies in dominant preparation which leads to Part I and the full solo statement of the chorale. An orchestral chorale-prelude variation ensues. The piano then alludes lyrically to the Chopin Nocturne, Op 62, whereupon the chorale returns on the winds over tremolando strings. A sudden brilliant solo arpeggio pyramid terminates the first part. Part II opens in C major with pulsating strings and low winds accompanying a bold sculptured theme in single notes in the piano's middle register.