Esplá composed Tempo di Sonata in 1920 at the suggestion of Andrés Segovia, which makes the piece one of the earliest guitar sonatas of the 20th century. Its technical difficulties prevented it from being premiered during the composer’s lifetime, which hindered its dissemination. In a single movement, the sonata was composed at the same time as Nochebuena del Diablo, with which it shares certain motives. The most recognizable of these is the Dies Irae sequence, which becomes structurally important in the sonata.