This work is a piano arrangement by Balakirev, based on a phrase from "The Lark" from Glinka's song cycle "A Farewell to Saint Petersburg," composed by Glinka, the father of the Russian National School, and incorporating Liszt's brilliant virtuoso elements. It begins with an introduction, followed by a simple, melancholic melody accompanied by a song-like accompaniment pattern, gradually developing with brilliant ornamentation added to the melody line. It is often performed as an encore piece in concerts.