Britten's brother, Robert [Bobby] Harry Marsh (1907-1987)
This is one of 'Two sonatas' listed in Britten's handwritten catalogue of works (compiled ca. Jan 1928), the other being Sonata for violin and pianoforte (Apr 1926). The date for the 1925 sonata is written as 'June 1925' in the catalogue: a fair copy of the sonata was begun in June 1925 but never completed. The scherzo and trio movement was also used in number 6 of Ten walztes (Mar 1925).