Originally composed as the first movement of the Sonata WoO 19 in Eb minor that was left unpublished during his lifetime, Scriabin reused and condensed the material to create this “Allegro Appasionato”.

It is a typically romantic piece, with glimpses of Russian dramatism emerging through the repeated and lyrical basses. Due to its tonality and dramatic aspect, it is also reminiscent of Scriabin’s later Etude No.7 Op.8.