The mid-1800s, a period when he overcame a mental crisis stemming from his hearing loss, is often referred to as the 'Forest of Masterpieces' due to the abundance of great works produced. These include the Piano Sonata No. 23 'Appassionata' (1804-5), Piano Concerto No. 4, 'Razumovsky Quartets' (1805-6), and Symphonies No. 5 and 6 (1807-8). While the exact circumstances of this work's composition are not fully known, it was composed around the same time as the symphonies mentioned just prior. The dedicatee, his close friend Baron I. v. Gleichenstein, was also a talented cello enthusiast.

Movement Descriptions

• Movement 1: A concerto-like sonata-form movement, opening with a simple first theme presented as a cello monologue, and a second theme woven from ascending scales and descending figures, alternated between cello and piano.
• Movement 2: A distinctive scherzo unified by syncopated rhythms, placed in lieu of a slow movement.
• Movement 3: Instead of a slow movement, a short, 18-bar cantabile Adagio section serves as a prelude to the finale. The lively main section develops primarily based on the first theme.