"In the Quiet Saffron Hour" divides formally into three sections, slow-fast-slow, with each section having its own structure. The outer sections are related not only by tempo but also by mood, orchestration, and melodic materials. The harmonies and melodies of the entire piece are derived from a five-note chord, a ten-note scale using the five-note chord and its inversion, and by a whole-step melodic figure. Rhythmically, much use is made of the Scottish snap, particularly in conjunction with the two-note whole-step melodic figure. Rhythmic notation is traditional except in the case of certain repeated figures used to build textural backgrounds, and in a rhythmically "free" section near the end of the piece. In these instances a slightly less restrictive and less specific notation was used.