Written around the time Clara was preparing to go to Paris in defiance of her father, this scherzo fully displays her virtuoso skill. It gained popularity in Parisian salons as Clara intended—or even more so. Clara wrote to Robert, "Everyone likes my scherzo very much. I always have to play it repeatedly." The fact that it was exceptionally included as Op. 10 in the 1878 "Piano Works" collection, despite the collection generally not including Clara's early works up to Op. 11, indicates that it was considered a valuable piece.