String Quintet, Op. 4 (Beethoven) String Quintet, Op. 4 (Beethoven) The String Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 4, was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1795. It was adapted from his Octet in E-flat major, Op. 103, which, despite its high opus number, was in fact composed by Beethoven in 1792/1793 but was published only in 1837, ten years after the composer's death. The Quintet was published in Vienna in 1796. The quintet has been viewed as a mere transcription of the octet. However, there are a few differences between the two works. In the first movement, there are significant changes in the exposition and
String quintet 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