These etudes were intended to be “musical evocations of external visual stimulae.” Rachmaninoff did not disclose what inspired each piece, stating, “I don’t believe in the artist that discloses too much of his images. Let them paint for themselves what it most suggests.”

Etude No. 6 is known as Little Red Riding Hood. Low brass play the part of the big bad wolf – trumpets and horns play the poor frightened little girl.