Fantasy No. 3 is an atonal piece with a sense of harmonic progression based on the composer’s PSTP system. The “Prelude” movement is in binary form, the two thematically parallel sections each beginning with three cello pizzicato notes. The first half modulates from the PSTP {{F, G, Bb, C}, {F#, G#, A, B}, {C#, D, D#, E}} to {{Bb, D, Eb, G}, {F#, G#, A, B}, {C, Db, E, F}}, ending with the sonority Eb-G-Bb-D. The second half reverses this procedure, closing with the quintal sonority Bb-F-C-G which emerged in the opening. This Bb quintal sonority is a focus for the whole piece.

“Invention 1” is based on the row . This is developed by classical Schoenbergian means, leading to a close in long notes which in turn connect PSTP-wise to the opening of “Invention 2”. The latter, mainly for the strings alone, constantly juxtaposes sonorities a tritone apart. After an exchange of roles in a texture of block chords vs arpeggiation, all five instruments together invoke a passage from the prelude.

The passacaglia theme is a 12-tone row (plus concluding Bb) suitable for harmonization by the opening PSTP. The final variation echoes the prelude opening.