The abundance of Haydn's work leads one to the false assumption that he was always producing them without cessation but an interval of three years separates this sonata from its predecessor. This sonata was the first of a set of six sonatas.

The opening movement has a rollicking theme, takes a breath and plunges forward. The sunny second subject is accompanied with broken chords, named after Alberti who was, by all accounts, a tedious composer but Haydn used his 'invention' to display his own ingenuity. The minuet has a charming but gawky theme with voice answering voice. The trio is surprisingly melancholy and very eloquent but the original theme returns with its air of elegant gaiety. The last movement sparkles with a theme built on a four note core. It flings itself along with trills and variations. It slows slightly but recovers and proceeds to a brillaint and gay close.

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