The piece opens with descending accented octaves which exuberantly ring out like bells. The middle section wanders darkly and mysteriously through chromatic passages. The next sections are marked contemplative and fanciful, finally ending with frenzied sffz octaves and chords.
The piano is used as a echo chamber in the Phoenix. Musically the trills, glissandos and clusters give a wonderful picture of each bird. The pedaling is very specific and will teach pianists a great deal about resonance.