This new piece is an extended, three-movement violin sonata for violin and piano. The work explores the subtitle concept of ‘circling’. This is pursued through a wide variety of musical elements. These include: circling melodies, repetitive chains of (modulating) chord sequences, motoric cross-rhythms and syncopation, heterophonic canonic textures, and large-scale concentric structures.

The fast, first movement is in a loose symmetrical sonata form in D (modal) minor. The resolute and scalic first subject, based on the opening core motif, is followed by a transition to a more lyrical and repetitive, cantabile second theme. The ensuing development section passes through various keys, with a new, modal third theme at its centre, featuring parallel motion, syncopation, and an ostinato in the accompaniment. The varied recapitulation presents the opening two themes in reverse order (thus giving overall structural symmetry to the movement).

The heart of the work as a whole is the slow, romanza-like second movement, centred on G. In ternary form, the outer sections present a highly memorable lyrical theme in a series of modulating and canonic textural variations. The contrasting middle section is much more unsettled in its three varied statements of a new theme accompanied by uncertain minor sevenths chords.

The rondo-like finale in D is the most minimalist in style and rhythm. A circling, motivic and scalic main theme appears between highly contrasting episodes. The first of these is a folk-like rustic theme, while the second is a sentimental melody, played over an arpeggio and descending bass line accompaniment. Heard three times, in three different keys and registers, this idea leads to an recap of the main rondo theme, signalling the end of the work.