String 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.

Typical layout
Cello quintet
Viola quintet
An unusual string quintet (De Zagerij Pro) consisting of four cellos and a double bass, Hof, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 2019

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]

List of viola quintets

Sheet music for a string quintet in E by Luigi Boccherini

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 (the Stelzner-Quintett; 1897) ; one Cello Quintet in F, Op. 77 (1901)

Works making use of a string quintet

  • Nigel Keay – one Double Bass Quintet with Contralto, Tango Suite (2002) ()

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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-02-26. Retrieved 2016-02-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Howell, Christopher (2002). "Review of ASV CDS DCA1056 & DCA925". Musicweb International. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  6. "Merton Catalog". Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  7. "Frank Martin Worklist". Archived from the original on 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2007-10-23.
  8. NY Public Library reference
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