Composed in March of 1985, Prime Set is a twelve-part canon for solo percussionist, nearly all the parameters of which are based upon the prime number set.

The percussion instruments are divided into three groups of four instruments/timbres each: skin (tambourine, tom-tom, high and low bongos), wood (wood block, temple block, castañets, pod rattle), and metal (sleighbells, cowbell, brake drum, gong). In addition, the percussionist uses four different mallets, thus enhancing the variety of attack possibilities.

The canon subject (stated twice in each of the twelve "voices") is basically an ordering of the twelve available timbres, each successive voice being a transposition of this timbral "row" (via matrix), as well as a diminution of durational values, resulting in a gradual increase in density. With the entry of the final voice, the subject is gradually augmented within each part, creating a textural dissipation as each voice finishes its statement of the subject.

The work is notated using a four-line tablature staff, each line representing a different mallet; instruments are denoted by twelve different symbols, the placement of which on the staff indicates the mallet(s) to be used.

Prime Set is dedicated to percussionist David Yoken, who premiered the work on 22 October 1985 at the University of California, San Diego.