String quintet


A string quintet is a musical composition for five string players. As an extension to the string quartet, a string quintet includes a fifth string instrument, usually a second viola or a second cello, or occasionally a double bass.
Notable examples of classic "viola quintets", in four movement form include those of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Other examples were written by composers including Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn.
A famous "cello quintet" is Franz Schubert's Quintet (Schubert)|Quintet in C major]. Antonín Dvořák's Quintet Op. 77 uses a double bass, and Mozart's famous Eine kleine Nachtmusik may be performed with this instrumentation.
Alternative additions to a string quartet include clarinet or piano. A more unusual form of string quintet is the violin quintet composed of 3 violins, a viola and a cello. Besides string quartets and quintets, other closely related chamber music genres include the string trio, and the string sextet.
The term string quintet may also refer to a group of five players that specializes in performing such works. The ensemble was standard in 17th century Italy and can be seen as early as 1607 in Claudio Monteverdi's opera, L'Orfeo.

List of viola quintets

List of cello quintets

String quintets for 3 violins, viola and cello

List of double bass quintets

String quintets for other combinations

  • Felix Draeseke – one Quintet in A for Two Violins, Viola, Violotta, and Cello ; Draeseke also composed one Cello Quintet- in F, Op. 77

Works making use of a string quintet