Ludwig van Beethoven composed his Op. 30, No. 3 Violin and Piano Sonata in 1802, the same year he spent time in Heiligenstadt trying to recover his hearing. During this time, it became clear his hearing would not return. Beethoven expressed his despair in a moving letter to his brothers, now known as the Heiligenstadt Testament. We think it is remarkable that Beethoven composed a piece with so many joyful and exuberant moments during a time of great sorrow.