It is believed that American composer Charles Griffes would sketch out a musical idea on staff paper as soon as it came into his head, and then work on the piece later, perfecting it. However, although he completed many pieces, there are a number that he merely sketched out and never really completed. Perhaps he believed that they were finished in the manner in which he wanted and so never went back to them. Or, with others, he may have gotten sidetracked on something else, and worked on that instead. There are a few sketched manuscripts that are neither named nor dated—or for that matter, finished—and the composer's intentions for them remain unknown to this day. However, with the Piece for Piano in D Minor, it seems that Griffes didn't quite complete it, and parts of it were only sketched in. There are penciled in measures that aren't complete, and even some blank measures in the manuscript, although they are few. Griffes spent two weeks working on the piece, and as far as it is known, did not go back to it.

The Piece for Piano in D Minor is similar in composition to his other Pieces in different keys, which he wrote around the same time. These include the E Major, B flat Major, and the Legend, although the D Minor is more dissonant than the others, and also is more of a "sketch" than the others. The piece, like the others, is absolute music and does not intend to portray any scene or expressed feeling.

In 6/8 time, the piece is rhythmic in nature and has a happier mood than many of Griffes' other pieces (he has a tendency to become melancholy). The lovely quality of the melody is there, and often intertwines with the contrapuntal harmonic lines, which are interspersed with loud block chords. It is a slow, lilting piece, with a brighter tone in the middle. However, it never really reaches a climax until the very end, and then it is over a few measures too soon. Griffes uses arpeggios throughout the piece; but as is frequent with him, he ends the piece with strong, block chords. The piece seems to wander, not really going anywhere, but lilting along in its stride. Perhaps this is because this is the least complete of the pieces and Griffes did not polish it. This is speculation, although it is obvious by looking at the manuscript that it is not quite finished.

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