Composed between 1774 and 1776, this work consists of two movements.

The first movement, in A major, is in Allegro, 2/4 time. Near the end of the exposition, there is a section with unison passages in both hands. In the development section (from m. 61), the first theme is primarily treated. Furthermore, the section with unison passages in both hands, previously seen in the exposition, follows after a fermata. Conversely, in the recapitulation (from m. 109), after the unison passage in both hands and a fermata, a coda in Adagio, 3/4 time, is played. Such a change in time signature within a single movement can be considered a bold technique in Haydn's piano sonatas.

The second movement is in Tempo di Menuetto and is in the same key as the first movement, A major. It is written in the form of variations, consisting of a 16-measure theme and six variations. Notably, this movement and the preceding one are separated not by a final bar line but by a double bar line, and the measure numbers run continuously through both movements. Therefore, the change to 3/4 time in the coda of the first movement can be considered a preparation for this movement. The theme's melody is marked "cantabile" and consists of two 8-measure halves. In Variation 1, this melody in the right hand is primarily subjected to rhythmic variation. In Variation 2, the melody shifts to the upper voice of the left hand. In Variation 3, the melody returns to the right hand, but both hands are based on scalar motion, and the outline of the original melody is considerably altered. Variation 4 is written in three voices, and the original melodic outline is primarily found in the upper or lower voice of the right hand. In Variation 5, the melody is treated with arpeggios. Finally, in the concluding Variation 6, both halves of the theme are presented twice each, and the theme is recapitulated in a form closer to its original outline than in the preceding variations.