The Violin Sonata No. 1, one of Arnold's earliest concert works, was completed in London in March 1947 and first performed on October 2, 1951, at London's Arts Council Drawing Room by violinist Nona Liddell and pianist Daphne Ibbott. In this three-movement work the two instrumentalists are more or less equal partners. As in many of Arnold's early works, there is an abundance of counterpoint, as well as a fair amount of dissonance and several abrupt changes of tempo and mood.

The first movement is lively, with little hints of jazz in the two main themes. Those themes are developed, and two brief episodes, marked "staccato a pizzicato," add variety. A song-like melody, with staccato chords as accompaniment, opens and closes the second movement. In between the mood becomes agitated as heavy piano chords erupt, but the music calms just as quickly. The abrupt gestures of the opening theme of the third movement contrast strongly with the second theme, which is conspicuously playful. Rhythmically lively throughout, the movement becomes even more so as the tempo increases and a wild tarantella-like dance breaks out. Tension builds, but is released with the repeated B flats that end the composition.

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