Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age. Jupiter's vibrant tunes degenerate to pale plodding. When a "tune" does surface, it is a dirge urging the creaking aged towards the gates of Hades. Following the awful climax, this depressing image becomes transfigured, to portray the other side of the coin of old age: autumnal serenity.

Unlike the previous movements, which are static in the sense that each depicts various aspects of a single trait, this one moves through a series of 'events' that bring the music to conclusions not envisioned at the beginning. Repeated melodies, chords and rhythm patterns are a feature of this movement. There is a profound hollowness and sense of defeat in the harmony of the two opening alternating chords on flutes and harp set the gentle mood for this entire movement

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At the climax of the piece the alternating chords swell in volume and colour to suggest the tolling of giant bells.  A motive of despair is played by the double basses from bar 3:


The work is a series of repetitions which undergo transformation of pitch and rhythm. The instrument playing the theme also changes to include trombones, clarinets, oboes and strings. Lower strings later enter with a descending plucked  figure.

Flutes play a new theme at bar 53 over an offbeat accompaniment:

 

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