An etude consisting of a main section featuring a simple, melancholic barcarolle melody played across both hands, and a middle section comprising a virtuosic and passionate cadenza. The main section, in particular, evokes a Russian melancholy reminiscent of that depicted in Tchaikovsky's The Seasons. It demands a wide range of expression and a dramatic conception. The melody of the piece consists almost entirely of stepwise motion, and even the cadenza section is merely an elaboration of it. Passages where this stepwise motion progresses in parallel with different note values, such as measures 11-12, can be considered sections that offer a rewarding challenge in terms of how to achieve the desired sound. Furthermore, regarding the coda, where a vigorous ascending scale and quiet chords respond to each other, a connection to the ending of Chopin's Ballade No. 1 is often pointed out.