Until around 1844 César Franck had principally appeared as a piano virtuoso. In 1851 he became organist at  St. Jean-St. François in Paris, where he had at his disposal a rather modest two-manual Cavaillé-Coll organ. However, the beautiful tone of the instrument filled him with such enthusiasm that he exclaimed in answer to a question about the organ: 'My new organ? It's an orchestra!' In 1859 Franck finally became Organiste titulaire at Ste. Clotilde in Paris, a position which he held until his death.

The origin of Franck's Sonata for Violin and Piano is closely linked to his acquaintance with the young violin virtuoso Eugène Ysaÿe. Franck dedicated the work to him as a wedding present. The composition is ranked among the most famous chamber music works at all.