The middle work in the three late chamber music sonatas was composed in spring 1915, directly after the cello sonata (HN 633). The innovative combination of sounds ╩ a wind instrument, a stringed instrument, and a plucked instrument ╩ greatly contributes to the impression of restrained melancholy. Debussy himself confirmed it, saying: ''It is terribly sad. And I do not know whether one should laugh or cry about it? Perhaps both at the same time?'' On another occasion he emphasised the similarit