Brahms began his professional career as a piano accompanist to better-known artists, and it was in this capacity that he made the acquaintance of the violinist Joseph Joachim. Their association developed into a friendship that lasted the length of their adjust lives, and resulted in the composition of Brahms’ Violin Concerto, the Double Concerto for violin and cello, and the three violin sonatas. The sonatas were written at the height of the composer’s maturity, and contain some of his most intense and beautiful music.