The work is a musical depiction of the concept of ‘screaming and crying' in all its numerous aspects: a general shout and fanfare-like whoop to attract attention increases in intensity and changes into a yell of rage, then a wail of longing and a call for love, and finally cumulates in a battle cry. In the final section this increasing aggression is internalised and turns into a softly pleading lament. This fading moan proves to be the most intense manifestation of the 'cry'.