Composed in Moscow in 1903 and published the following year. The year before this work was composed, Scriabin had resigned from his position as a piano professor at the Moscow Conservatory. Also in the year of its composition, he began to develop feelings for Tatiana, the sister of music critic Boris de Schloezer, and started contemplating separating from his wife and four children. It was also around this time that he began frequenting the Moscow Philosophical Society, where he was exposed to ideas such as Russian Symbolism and mysticism, which influenced his later works.

No. 1: D-flat Major, 3/4 time, Andante

The use of augmented sixth chords and constant modulations creates a new harmonic idiom. The technique of cross-phrasing is also employed, resulting in a unique musical character that seems to float in the air. This piece, which begins in D-flat major, concludes in C major.

No. 2: F-sharp Minor, 2/4 time, Con stravaganza (with extravagance)

A piece constructed with chords. The left hand primarily plays octaves.

No. 3: E-flat Minor, 2/2 time, Presto

The right hand primarily plays quintuplets in the middle register. These quintuplets are marked to be played sotto voce and legato. The left hand plays octaves below. The concluding section of this piece is striking due to the contrasting f and pp markings, appearing almost every measure.

No. 4: C Major, 3/4 time, Lento

Similar to No. 2, this piece is constructed with chords. Due to the frequent chromatic movement, the final dominant-to-tonic harmony stands out. Notably, a whole rest of one measure is placed before this dominant chord.