The revised sheet music contains a number of rhythmic, harmonic and melodic cells from the original version, and the slow movement is largely unaltered.
The first movement is in a contorted sonata form, in which the few melodic and rhythmic cells upon which the work is built gradually swell up to an unnerving climax high in the orchestra’s range, followed by a brief recapitulation.
The only music to survive Henze's revision, the second movement reveals the heavy influence of Hindemith on the composer, especially given the lyrical viola solo.
The final movement develops the same material, now with an aggressive rhythm, the texture building to a true climax before fading around eerily repeating harp harmonics.
This version had its world premiere at Munich on July 6, 2006, and now has titles for the three movements: Henze himself recorded the work (in the 1963 revision) for Deutsche Grammophon as part of a survey of his five early symphonies.