It was first performed on 8 November 1879 in Bonn, by the husband and wife Robert Heckmann (violin) and Marie Heckmann-Hertig (piano).

[1][2] Each of the three movements of this sonata shares common motivic ideas or thematic materials from the principal motif of Brahms's two songs "Regenlied" and "Nachklang", Op.

The rhythm of the rain motif appearing in the middle section of the second movement is adapted to a funeral march.

The two disruptive appearances of the main theme of the Adagio in the third movement also represent cyclic form used in this sonata.

[5] Arrangements for viola and piano have also be made, including by Leonard Davis,[6] Csaba Erdélyi,[7] and Thomas Riebl.