Prelude

The Prelude (Allegretto, completed on December 30, 1950), which begins with a bouncy right-hand accompaniment, is a lively and enjoyable piece, characterized by distinct and vibrant articulation. The theme, repeated to a waltz rhythm, is highly memorable, but its boundless cheerfulness and ironically chromatic harmonic progression clearly distort the inherent elegance of the waltz, containing elements of parody. The middle section, with its high-pitched tessitura, is simple and flat in terms of timbre, serving to heighten anticipation for the forthcoming brilliant recapitulation.

Fugue

The subject of the Fugue (4 voices, Allegro molto, completed on January 8, 1951) is so unrestrained that it can be described as carnival-like. If one voice is likened to two, it takes a form where the intervals expand around D-flat and then contract; since 11 of the 12 notes in an octave are used, it sounds atonal in terms of sonority. One of the subject's distinguishing features is its construction using an asymmetrical changing meter: 3/4+3/4+3/4+2/2+3/4+5/4. This creates a unique imbalance and a resulting sense of dynamism. The countersubject is based on chromatic progression, supporting the character of the subject. In the latter half of the piece, the opening accompaniment of the Prelude is directly quoted, leading the work to converge into a bold and brilliant cadence in D-flat major.