E-flat major, 4/4 time. At the beginning, there is the instruction "Slowly, gently," and pedal markings are present throughout the work. The title of the work was initially "The Tightrope Walker Girl" during the sketch phase, and "Mignon (Tightrope Walking)" in the print master. As the title suggests, the frontispiece depicts a girl walking on a tightrope. While generally tranquil, the piece exhibits a certain precariousness, for instance, with sudden fp markings in the left hand.