 The composition is in one movement and takes approximately 7 minutes to perform.The score is notated in C. This composition is still one of the most performed in its repertoire and also the composition with which Penderecki introduced his neo-Romantic style, which he further developed in his following works, moving away from the style he had been using for the previous 15 years, which included the composition of his first symphony.The composition received initially mostly positive reviews from Polish and European critics.