The Three Postludes occupy a pivotal position in Lutoslawski's output. The serially-influenced harmonic language of Musique funèbre is taken further, resulting in an orchestral complexity that the composer was unable to clarify to his satisfaction. Begun in 1958 and abandoned during 1960, only the First Postlude was realised at a concert celebrating the centenary of the Red Cross, by the Suisse Romande Orchestra and Ernest Ansermet, on 1^st September 1963. All three were heard on 8^th October 1965, with Henryk Czyz conducting the Krakow Philharmonic. Lutoslawski never encouraged performances of the set, however, and they remain the least played of his major works.

A play of disconnected woodwind and brass motifs against a static harmonic back-drop on strings, the First Postlude is among the simplest of all his pieces in construction, moving to a clearly sign-posted and very definite climax almo