It is unclear who Uncle Ned was, but nonetheless, the personal nature of these three pieces is very clear. All three movements share common motives — most importantly the descending G – E – D – (B) motive heard at the outset — but the character of these motives changes as the "uncle's" personality develops over time. The jovial tone of the first movement yields to what Price termed a "pompous" character in No. 2 and then to a character of serene reflection or recollection redolent of stile-antico polyphony in No. 3. The second movement explores broad gestures, octaves, and unexpected rhythmic variations.