Unlike his first two symphonies the third is "gentle rather than somber in character, dominated by the spirit of Northern legends which, Bax acknowledges, influenced him subconsciously".
There is a long slow section in the middle of the movement before the allegro moderato material eventually returns at the conclusion.
Unusually, Bax calls for a single anvil strike at the climax of this movement (his original intention had been more conventional, with a cymbal clash).
It ends in a famous, peaceful and beautiful epilogue which makes a suitable close to the journey of the first three symphonies—which are in many ways linked, and are a cycle of their own.
[3] The symphony opens with an extended solo for bassoon: [4] Slowly more woodwinds are introduced and as the movement progresses more of the instruments make their appearances.