This theme, embodied with unwavering strength, is subsequently echoed in full grandeur by the unison horns, simultaneously portraying the indomitable spirit of Charles (II) le Moyne de Longueuil, a baron bestowed with this honor by Louis XIV.

While the symphony does not adhere to a conventional recapitulation, key motifs reappear throughout, including a poignant return to the foreboding drumming of the opening, ultimately leading to a resolute and decisive cadence that encapsulates the essence of Longueuil's enduring spirit.

This movement serves as an auditory portrayal of the vibrant ambiance of contemporary Longueuil, a city located on the southern banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada.

Like Eulalie Durocher, the composer's mother embodied qualities of compassion and fortitude, making her passing a deeply personal and emotionally charged experience.

The finale opens, Allegro con fuoco and fortissimo, with a rising three-note motto defining a major seventh – a figure the composer regards as his personal fate motif.

David Nice from BBC Music Magazine wrote: "I had to force myself to listen to the end of the A minor Symphony, more a symphonic tone-poem in four very conventional movements".