Violin Sonata No. 1 (Brahms)

The Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78, ""Regensonate", for violin and piano was composed by Johannes Brahms during the summers of 1878 and 1879 in Pörtschach am Wörthersee. It was first performed on 8 November 1879 in Bonn, by the husband and wife Robert Heckmann (violin) and Marie Heckmann-Hertig (piano).
Structure.
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. 59, and this is why this sonata is also called the "Rain Sonata" ("Regensonate").
The first movement, "Vivace ma non troppo" is written in sonata form in G major; the second movement, "Adagio" – "Più andante" – "Adagio", is an expanded ternary form in E major, and the third movement, "Allegro molto moderato" is a rondo in G minor with coda in G major. The dotted rhythm motif from the two songs is not only directly quoted as a leading theme in the third movement of this sonata but also constantly appearing as fragmented rhythmic motif throughout the all three movements of the sonata so that the entire sonata has a certain coherency. 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.
Cello / viola transcription.
Brahms also arranged the sonata (in D-major) for cello and piano. According to Janos Starker, Paul Klengel, brother of the cellist Julius Klengel, produced a viola transcription.