It is known that this sonata was composed prior to its publication in 1784 as part of the "Sonata Collection, Volume 2". This collection contained three works, Hob. XVI/40–42, Op. 37. All three of these piano sonatas consist of two movements, and the present sonata is the second of them.

First Movement

The first movement, in B-flat major, is marked Allegro and is in 2/2 time. It begins with a lively theme that ascends and descends the scale of the tonic key. In the development section (from m. 56), prior to the development of the first theme in E-flat major, the dominant chord of E-flat major and, preceding it, the tonic chord of D-flat major (which leads to the dominant chord) each sound for two measures (D-flat – F – A-flat → B-flat – D – F – A-flat → development of the first theme in E-flat major). Consequently, a latent chromatic progression of notes leading to E-flat (D-flat → D-natural → E-flat) can be observed within this passage. Subsequently, the second theme is also treated. In the recapitulation (from m. 97), the movement concludes by employing a technique that extends the closing section of the exposition.

Second Movement

The second movement, Allegro di molto, is in 2/4 time and, like the first movement, is in B-flat major. It is written in rondo form, and polyphonic techniques are employed throughout the movement. The rondo theme sometimes returns transposed (from m. 31) and sometimes returns faithfully to its initial form (from m. 62). In the concluding section, this theme sounds in the left hand, sometimes doubled in octaves (from m. 108), bringing the movement to a close.