The composition consists of three movements and a typical performance takes approximately 11 minutes. The movement list is as follows:[2]
Hälfte des Lebens (Halfway through Life). Lento
Wenn aus der Ferne (If from a Distance). Andante con tenerezza
Abendphantasie (Evening Reverie). Maestoso – Più mosso, agitato
The piece is a polyphonic four-part work for 16 voices (that is, four each of sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses). Its compositional style is strongly influenced by Ligeti's word-painting techniques from the 60s. Here, lyrics are almost indistinguishable, so the listener is encouraged to listen to the labyrinthic ramifications of the music instead of trying to understand the content of the original poems.[3]
Ligeti commented on this work: "My three fantasies are emotional, 'onomatopoetic', overwrought, 16-voiced pieces (not micropolyphonic!)".[4]