At the age of 50 Sibelius was celebrated as a national hero. Two days before his birthday, on 6th December 1915, a concert took place at the
Helsinki Music Institute, where most of his major chamber works from 1890–1915 were presented. The Violin Sonatina was premiered at this concert.

The B flat major Quartet was at the time unpublished and almost unknown. It is rarely performed even today.