Having graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, Kapustin spent approximately two decades working with jazz orchestras, during which he primarily composed works for orchestra, big band, and piano. Towards the end of the 1970s, he developed an interest in composing for piano, first completing the "Suite in Old Style." In 1984, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, he composed "Sonata-Fantasy" (Piano Sonata No. 1). Subsequently, he was required to immediately produce a substantial work of medium to large scale as a follow-up. Based on a single short piece that was already completed (which later became No. 8, "Finale," in this collection), seven new pieces were composed in rapid succession. The eight pieces were conceived with a tonal arrangement designed to form a continuous work. Each piece was initially given a title in Russian. Elements previously unfamiliar in classical music, such as the use of jazz idioms like swing and boogie-woogie, and rock and Latin rhythms, are interspersed throughout, ensuring the listener's sustained engagement. While it is desirable for the entire set to be performed consecutively, many pianists choose to present only a selection of the pieces.

This collection stands as the most popular among Kapustin's piano works, having been performed by numerous international pianists, including Nikolai Petrov, Marc-André Hamelin, Vadim Rudenko, and Nikolai Lugansky. While No. 7 appears to be the most popular, in Japan, Nos. 1 and 8 are frequently performed.