Pax impotens was composed in March of 1989 as one of two documents for the doctoral qualifying examinations at Indiana University. The work was first performed at Indiana University on 26 October 1989.

Acting as a quasi-introduction, the brief first movement is structurally somewhat rhapsodic and is characterized by a gradual refinement of the basic raw materials presented in the opening. The final section contains references to elements within the following movement. By contrast, the second movement is tightly structured, and consists of a solo line that is continuously passed throughout the ensemble, sporadically accompanied by a meandering filigree-like texture in the remaining trio.