Because of this work's name and its 1925 compoisition date, it poses in the guise of a neo-classical composition. It is, in fact, modern in harmony, and sound, romantic in its mood and subjectivity, and classical only as to its forms and in the way the piano is treated as a voice emerging from the orchestral group. It is a vigorous and sweeping work. Its first movement, "Prelude, " marked "allegro energico e pesante, " ("energetically fast and heavy") begins with arresting and aggressive chords, which creates a feeling of strength rare in pieces lacking any wind instruiments or percussion. The second movement, "Dirge, " is what its title sugggests. The charming and lighter-hearted third movement is again explained by its title, "Pastoral and Rustic Dances." For the Finale Bloch turned to a form which is associated with Bach, a "Fugue, " a strong fast piece with modern harmonic tartness. Considered a leading work of the period.

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