David Diamond was part of the 'new generation' of American composers who emerged in the 1930s. This Sonata has quickly established itself in the American violin sonata repertory and has received several recordings. The first movement is unusual in that the new 'sections' are marked not just by different melodic/harmonic material but also by changes in tempo. It's opening motive and the lyrical theme return as the melodic material of the second movement. The first section is a rondo, which is a form with a recurring theme separated by different episodes. This is married to an ending section which is a fugue.