Hummel has been one of music history's great underdogs, suffering in the giant shadow cast by Beethoven. In the latter decades of the twentieth century, however, his music was rediscovered and many of his scores are now viewed as worthy to stand with Beethoven's. His piano concertos and chamber music have especially garnered attention, and this sonata—written for violin (or flute) and piano—is one of his better-crafted, more popular efforts. Cast in three movements, the work is short, lasting about 15 minutes, with the opening panel nearly as long as the other two combined. Marked Allegro con brio, the first movement presents a jaunty main theme first given to the violin (or flute, in the alternate scoring), which is then taken up by the piano. A more relaxed second theme appears, after which the development section shows the opening melody to have a more muscular, more intense side. Still, the first movement remains largely light and a quite similar mood prevails in the ensuing Andante. It has a livelier manner than its marking suggests, although its music is mostly relaxed and playful. The Rondo Pastorale finale may offer the most catchy music, its main theme a chipper creation of memorable character and its writing for both instruments full of color and excitement. Both the violin and flute versions are equally effective, though it appears the flute rendition is the more often recorded.

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