This is the smallest of the three sets of piano pieces Prokofiev transcribed from his ballet Cinderella (1940-44). The other two were comprised of ten pieces (Op. 97) and six pieces (Op. 102). He also derived three suites for orchestra from the ballet (Opp. 107, 108 and 109) and an Adagio (Op. 97a) for cello and piano, a work that is really a transcription of a transcription, since it is taken from the last piece in the Op. 97 set.

What sets the Three Pieces here apart from the other music derived from Cinderella is that they were extracted long before the composer had completed the ballet. Some musicologists have surmised from that fact that they must represent Prokofiev's personal favorites from among the various transcriptions from the ballet.

The first, Pavane, is taken from No. 20 in the ballet, Dance of the Courtiers. It is charming and somewhat stately in the orchestral score, but sounds a bit different on piano, more biting and less regal. Gavotte corresponds to No. 10 in the ballet, also called Gavotte, but shares music as well with No. 7, The Dancing Lesson. Again, this generally light music turns grittier on the piano, though its color and thematic appeal are just as strong.

The last piece here, Valse Lente, is taken from the ballet's similarly-named penultimate dance, No. 49. This is one of Prokofiev's loveliest creations, featuring a beautiful melody, warm harmonies and a mood of passionate romance. The composer had this set of piano pieces published in 1943, thus making it also the first Cinderella-derived work to appear in that venue.

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