This symphonic poem was written at the same time with the opera The Snow Maiden in 1880 and they share some similarities. Originally it was going to be entitled "Baba Yaga" and dedicated to Balakirev, but he criticized the initial sketches for the work. In the end, Rimsky-Korsakov completed the work as planned and dedicated it to Glazounov, but he changed the title to just Skakza (Fairy Tale) and prefaced the score with a quotation from the Prologue of Pushkin's "Russlan and Ludmila" that makes reference to numerous stories and whose last phrase reads: "One of these I will now recount" as if leaving the story to the imagination of the listener. The work begins in a mysterious and somber atmosphere. A more positive theme is announced by the clarinet. The violins help pushing the shadows away. But the trombones bring an ominous theme. There is a pause and then things get in motion while tension increases. The music suddenly stops and a solo violin questions the silence. The flute replies, timidly at first, but more confidently later. A new theme is announced by the clarinet over harp arpeggios. The rest of the orchestra joins in. The initial theme reappears, followed by a stormy section. Then the music calms down. A new dialogue between the flute and the solo violin with their themes reversed is followed by another full orchestral stormy section. A new pause allows the initial theme to return. The solo violin brings back the initial clarinet theme to close the piece. Everything suggests a detailed story was told, but Rimsky-Korskakov preferred to leave it undisclosed.

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