Following its predecessor, this work also stands out for its private beauty. With a performance time of about 10 minutes, it is affectionately known as the "Kuckou Sonata" due to the treatment of the motif in the first movement. The categorization as a sonatina was mentioned by Beethoven in a letter to his publisher upon its announcement, where he specified that it should be titled as a sonatina upon publication.

The "alla tedesca" in the first movement means "in the style of a German dance," specifically a Ländler. This was a dance for couples, prevalent in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland at the time (there is a scene in the film "The Sound of Music" where the heroine dances a Ländler with her partner). The overall tone throughout is calm and gentle. The second and third movements are in typical ternary and rondo forms, respectively. It is noteworthy that, unlike the "Appassionata" period where the emotional character of the work was defined by the development of its form, here the melody remains the core of the work. Opus 78 and this work marked the first piano sonatas composed in four years since the "Appassionata." However, following its predecessor, the Romantic tendencies explored by Beethoven during his Cantabile period did not persist much, and in his late period, he would return to large-scale sonatas.

Among works inspired by nature, the "Pastoral Symphony" is often cited first. However, while in the "Pastoral" Beethoven sought divine revelation through dialogue with individual aspects of nature, here it is interesting to observe his inner landscape, as if plucked directly from his immersion in nature.