Charles Tomlinson Griffes (1884 - 1920) was an American composer, whose life was tragically cut short by influenza at the age of 35. He was born in New York and studied in Berlin before returning to the U.S. in 1907,where he became one of the leading American impressionists.

Scherzo is the third of Griffes' opus 6, Three Fantasy Pieces, for solo Piano. One of his earliest works, it was written in 1912 andpublished in 1915.