The first movement starts off the Serenade in the key of major. The second violins and cellos introduce the lyrical main theme over an eighth note pulse in the violas. The theme is traded back and forth, and the second violins reprise it under a soaring passage in the firsts.

At measure 31, the movement modulates into major and presents a new, dancelike theme, based on a dotted rhythm. At measure 54, the movement modulates back into major and the primary theme returns. The movement ends on three major chords.