 A melody resembling the robin song from "Jeanne d'Arc au Bûcher", can be heard towards the end of each movement.Honegger himself wrote an extensive commentary on the work, making explicit the music's connection with the horrors of the War, and the desire for peace.Written in 1945-46 on a commission from the Foundation "Pro Helvetia", Honegger's Third was first performed in Zürich on 17 August 1946 with Charles Munch conducting the Suisse Romande Orchestra.