The main melody is mostly shared by harp and celesta, with glockenspiel accents, though variation and added body is often provided by strings, winds or brass accompaniment.
To set up an ethereal atmosphere the composition opens up with delicate flute triplets and harp arpeggios underscored by violin tremolos providing a pedal.
The melody lines then modulate through several keys. Starting with a circle-of-fifths progression in C major (measure 9) we modulate a relative minor below to A minor and a ii-iv-V progression (m. 11), followed by other diatonic progressions with both perfect and imperfect cadences. After a harp glissando in m. 20 we modulate again a 3rd below to F major and later its relative, D minor. Another glissando (m. 32) cues the entry of the string section, while horns and trombones lend dynamic power to the prima volta section starting in m. 42.