Second Movement: 'Play of the Waves'

Although an extremely fluid movement, its progression can be understood through seven climaxes [5]. The initial motif, an ascending augmented fourth figure (rehearsal mark 16, m. 9), urgently forms the first climax (rehearsal mark 18, mm. 28-32), while the trill motif appearing in Piano I at rehearsal mark 19 (m. 35) forms the second climax in Piano II (mm. 72-73). Following a small third climax (m. 99), the fourth climax (m. 115) and fifth climax (m. 126) appear intermittently. The sixth climax (rehearsal mark 32, mm. 153-160) is built upon the powerful bass line in Piano II and trills played by both hands in Piano I, preparing for the return of the trill motif beginning at rehearsal mark 33 (m. 163). Tension escalates through the recapitulation of rehearsal mark 19, leading to the creation of the seventh climax (rehearsal mark 38, mm. 215-218) marked by fff. However, the music rapidly decays thereafter, fading away without a clear cadential close.