Brahms wrote the Sonata Op. 38 during the summer months of 1862 and 1865. The piece is really a homage to J.S. Bach and has become standard repertoire for the cellist. In the first movement, Brahms copied the counterpoint 4 from the "Art of the Fugue" in the main motif, as well as counterpoint 13 in the motif of the fugue in the finale. Offered to publishers Breitkopf & Härtel with the composer´s comment that it was "quite easy to play for both instruments", it is possible for advanced amateur musicians to perform the sonata - in contrast to its counterpart in F-Major.