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
Philadelphia String Quartet by Violist Radhames Santos. A new web site has been made: Philadelphia String Quartet Philadelphia String Quartet The Philadelphia String Quartet was an American string quartet started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The string quartet was started in 1959-60 by four members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who later broke off from the orchestra and accepted residency in Washington. Alan Iglitzin, the founding violist of the quartet, later went on to found the Olympic Music Festival near Quilcene, Washington. The original founding members of the Philadelphia String Quartet were Alan Iglitzin (viola), Irwin Eisenberg (second violin), Charles Brennand (cello), and Veda Reynolds (first