String quintet

Typical layout
Cello quintet
Viola quintet

A string quintet is a musical composition for five string players. As an extension to the string quartet (two violins, a viola, and a cello), a string quintet includes a fifth string instrument, usually a second viola (a so-called "viola quintet") or a second cello (a "cello quintet"), 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 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 (the double bass being optional).

Alternative additions include clarinet or piano (see clarinet quintet, piano quintet); and other closely related chamber music genres include the string quartet (much more common), the string trio, and the string sextet. A more unusual form of string quintet is the violin quintet composed of 3 violins, a viola and a cello (thus a string quartet with an additional violin).

The term string quintet may refer to a group of five players that performs 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.[1] It can also be applied to the standard five-part orchestral string section: first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses.

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

Works making use of a string quintet

References

  1. Myers, Herbert W. (2000). "When Is a Violino Not a Viola da Braccio?" The Galpin Society Journal 53, 335–39.
  2. Parlett, David. "Catalog of music by Bax (1930-1939)". Retrieved 2007-12-20.
  3. Archived September 23, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. 1 2 3
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2016-02-06.
  6. 1 2 "Merton Catalog". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  7. "Frank Martin Worklist". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  8. NY Public Library reference
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