String quintet in 17th century Italy and can be seen as early as 1607 in Claudio Monteverdi's opera, "L'Orfeo". It can also be applied to the standard five-part orchestral string section: first violins, second violins, violas, cellos, and double basses. 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. Notable examples of classic "viola quintets", in
RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet, also known as the RTÉ String Quartet is the resident string quartet to Raidió Teilifís Éireann, Ireland's national broadcasting service, and collectively artists in residence to University College Cork. The Quartet members are also founders of the internationally acclaimed West Cork Chamber Music Festival. The quartet comprises Gregory Ellis and Keith Pascoe on violins, Simon Aspell on viola and Christopher Marwood with cello. It is part of RTÉ Performing Groups. The RTÉ Quartet was founded in 1985 and won the London International String Quartet Competition in 1988. It is one of Europe's most successful