One of several collections of preludes published in 1897, alongside 24 Preludes, Op. 11.

Prelude No. 1

B major, 3/4 time, Andante

Composed in Moscow at the age of 22. The left hand, gracefully moving through a wide range with arpeggiated chords, sometimes covers an ambitus of up to three octaves. A two-measure left-hand introduction gently draws out the right-hand melody. The left hand continues to trace arpeggiated chords across a wide range, while the right hand sings a broad, sustained melody above it.

Prelude No. 2

Composed in Vitznau, Switzerland, at the age of 23. This piece creates a finely vibrating sound through polyrhythms of 4 against 5, 3 against 5, and 2 against 5, eventually leading to both hands playing quintuplets simultaneously. It is a piece primarily characterized by the sounding of chords in both hands.

Prelude No. 3

Composed in Moscow at the age of 22. The left hand takes over the parallel motion in sixths presented by both hands in the introduction, while the right hand weaves intricate patterns above it. As the piece progresses, the note values in the right hand become increasingly subdivided.

Prelude No. 4

Composed in St. Petersburg at the age of 23. It is constructed from a superposition of three-measure phrases. It is a short piece, only 12 measures long. The contrast between sections where the right hand plays only single notes and sections where both hands sound chords is striking.

Prelude No. 5

F-sharp major, 3/8 time, Allegretto

Composed in Moscow at the age of 23. The melody of this piece moves across a wide range. The accompanying left hand often plays single notes, also covering a wide range.