Lutoslawski wrote only two works for full orchestra (without soloist) during the 1970s, this one and the work immediately preceding, "Mi-Parti." The composer revived a title originally applied in music by Robert Schumann to imply a lighter-weight piece in several episodes (which are given at the head of this note). The opening "announcement" is the shortest part at one and a half minutes while the conclusion is the longest at six and a half. The three "events" are a bit under three minutes long.

Having read this suggestion that the composition is "lighter in weight," most audiences coming to the piece new are unprepared for the jarringly hard dissonances at the beginning, which is fifteen repetitions of a dyad of the notes F and E separated by fifteen brutally dissonant seven-note chords in woodwind and brass. Some soft string chords provide relief, but are interrupted by these chords three times. The audience almost overlooks a little motive played by the xylophone, which emerges as a major idea later.

The three events seem to be intended to set up the drama that erupts in the final section, a strong climax on a twelve-note chord. The work ends with a harsh dissonance that is almost as shocking as the opening.

Shortly after writing Mi-Parti, Lutoslawski found himself dissatisfied with the style he had been using to that point. He decided to change his style, and began thinking through various solutions to his artistic. However, he had a commission for this piece, and could not hold it up while ht rethought his style. It is composed in the older style, and seems to betray the results of the composer's lack of confidence in it.



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