Sonata for Violin and Piano, FP 119

The Sonate pour violon et piano (Violin Sonata), FP 119, by Francis Poulenc was written between the summer of 1942 and Easter 1943 and is dedicated to the memory of the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, who was shot at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. It was at least the fourth violin sonata Poulenc had begun since 1918 and the only one he preserved. Ginette Neveu, who had asked him for the work and advised him on the violin writing, gave the first performance with the composer at the piano on 21 June 1943 at the Salle Gaveau in Paris.

The three movements, Allegro con fuoco, Intermezzo and Presto tragico, last about 15 to 18 minutes in performance. Poulenc thought the result was not among his best music, and its critical reception has been largely unfavourable, although the sonata has been recorded many times.