The work was written down along with other piano sonatas during the visit Mozart paid to Munich for the production of La finta giardiniera from late 1774 to the beginning of the following March.

The first movement of the sonata is in sonata form, and consists of three themes of new material, a development, in which the themes from the exposition are varied and combined, and a recapitulation, in which the exposition is repeated and varied.

The development and recapitulation follow, varying and combining these themes before restating them, as is normal in sonata form.

The mood of this movement is mournful and tragic, with the opening somewhat resembling a funeral march.

2005) piece Mozart's Adagio reimagined the music from this movement in a work for violin, cello and piano.