Mendelssohn in all probability composed the sonata for Carl Baron von Kaskel, who was also acquainted with Schumann and Wagner, and who dabbled in playing the clarinet and composing. The autograph of Mendelssohn's clarinet sonata has only been accessible again since the 1980s. Unfortunately the date at the end of the manuscript has been removed. A copyist's manuscript of the work that has also survived bears the date “1824.” The fairly simple clarinet part might pay tribute to Kaskel's ability and therefore lends itself to teaching.