 The accompanying instrumental ensemble consists of accordion, harp, trombone, cello, double bass, piano and percussion (including anvil and spoons).Many of the characters are assigned leitmotifs in the music – that for the pig is a trombone motif in the key of B-flat minor.The three daughters of King Hildebrand, while their father is away at war, enter against his rules a room in the castle containing a book which predicts their fortunes; two are to be married to princes, but Flora is to be married to a pig.