[8] The publisher remarked that the "improvisational and fugitive" parts of Debussy's compositions were "governed by a precisely calibrated formal design" that left "little room for chance".

[10] It was dedicated to Debussy's student Mlle Worms de Romilly, who notes that the movement "tellingly evokes the gongs and music of Java".

[1] The pianist Angela Hewitt notes that Prélude begins with a theme in the bass, followed by a long pedal point passage.

The theme is repeated in chords marked fortissimo, together with glissando runs that Debussy connected to "d’Artagnan drawing his sword".

[5] Sarabande is marked "Avec une élégance grave et lente" (With a slow and solemn elegance).

[5] Émile Vuillermoz described Debussy's playing of the movement as "with the easy simplicity of a good dancer from the sixteenth century".

[5] The movement has been regarded as "among the most intimate music for the keyboard",[10] showing an affinity to Erik Satie such as his 1887 three dances called Sarabandes.