Why did Sergey Prokofiev’s early music shock some audiences?

Sergey Prokofiev’s early music often shocked audiences due to his bold departure from traditional musical conventions. His compositions were characterized by an unorthodox treatment of melodic and harmonic material, frequently featuring unusual key changes.1

A primary source of this controversy was his aggressive, percussive approach to rhythm, which often took precedence over melody. In his hands, the piano was treated more like a percussion instrument, and he frequently employed diabolically intricate rhythms that challenged contemporary listeners. Furthermore, Prokofiev often disregarded standard structural expectations, such as when he composed his Piano Concerto No. 1 as a single movement rather than the conventional three, and "violated" traditional patterns of thematic development by manipulating musical fragments to suit his own creative vision.1