This is Brahms's only independent scherzo, composed when he was 18 years old. It is an early piano work from the period when he was just beginning to focus on composition. Completed in Hamburg in August 1851 and published in February 1854, it is the first work published during Brahms's lifetime, making it a commemorative piece. Before visiting Schumann, Brahms visited Liszt in Weimar, and this scherzo was among the scores of his own compositions that he brought with him. An anecdote is known that Liszt sight-read the autograph score, astonishing Brahms.

The first theme of this piece bears a considerable resemblance to the theme of Chopin's Scherzo No. 1, a fact also pointed out by Liszt. However, it is said that Brahms knew nothing of Chopin's works at the time. Nevertheless, it is true that Brahms's teacher, Marxsen, was familiar with Chopin's music.

Furthermore, a quotation from the overture to Heinrich Marschner's opera Hans Heiling has been noted in this piece. The piece adopts a rondo-like structure of A-B-A-C-A, featuring two trios. The score was dedicated to Brahms's friend, the pianist Wenzel.