A motif, centered on an ascending melodic pattern and derived from the "Ryukyu scale"—a five-note scale (D-E-F-G-B-D) prevalent throughout Okinawa Prefecture and on Okinoerabu Island and Yoron Island in the Amami Islands of Kagoshima Prefecture—unfolds with alternating pianistic techniques, colorful harmonies, and atonal sounds. However, the cheerfulness and nostalgia commonly associated with "Ryukyu music" are entirely absent from this piece. Melodic lines and distinct rhythmic patterns are largely avoided; instead, the Ryukyu scale motif is subjected to various transformations, developing to amplify emotions such as sadness and pain, as indicated by the title "Elegy." While this compositional approach suggests an exploration of new techniques, the work was written in 1997, late in Hirayoshi's life. It is unclear whether consciously or unconsciously, but the piece incorporates elements of fear and suffering related to "death." Furthermore, a sense of "infinity" is created through the ambiguity of tonality and the continuous variation of motifs, giving the impression of deeply excavating the human inner world and spiritual realm.