Beethoven’s Cello Sonatas, though only five in number, have greater variety than that of the Violin Sonatas. The first two, written in 1796, are typical of early Beethoven – a relaxed Classical style showing the influences of Mozart and Joseph Haydn. However, unlike other composers, Beethoven showed considerable individuality while also paying tribute to the older men. The Rondo of the first sonata clearly exhibits a fresh new voice. The Sonata No. 2 in G Minor – the only minor-key work of the five – shows a dramatic side while maintaining its late eighteenth-century elegance.