Composed by Mussorgsky in 1871, when he was 32 years old. The work was published the following year in the St. Petersburg magazine Novosti (News).

It is written in 9/8 time with the tempo marking Assai vivo. Occasionally, sections in 12/8 time are inserted, juxtaposing music in duple meter with music in triple meter. Furthermore, sixteenth notes are dominant throughout, played by both the left and right hands. These occasionally appear in unison, characterized by arpeggiated or trill-like figures. The piece primarily explores sonorities in the middle to high registers, concluding with ascending eighth notes passed between the left and right hands.