String quartet String quartet A string quartet is a musical ensemble consisting of four string players – two violin players, a viola player and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group. The string quartet is one of the most prominent chamber ensembles in classical music, with most major composers, from the mid 18th century onwards, writing string quartets. The string quartet was developed into its current form by the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn, with his works in the 1750s establishing the genre. Ever since Haydn's day the string quartet has been considered a prestigious form
String Quartet No. 2 (Mendelssohn) più mosso, which is replaced first by Più Presto, then Allegro di molto, in copyist's manuscript. <nowiki>***</nowiki> Composer used Molto Allegro in autograph, it was replaced by Presto in copyist's manuscript. Though Mendelssohn was still a teenager when he wrote this quartet, he was already an experienced composer of chamber music. He had already written the string quintet opus 18, the octet for strings opus 20, and three piano quartets, besides several youthful string quartets which remained unpublished. He had a few months before produced his opera "Die Hochzeit des Camacho", which was not a success. (His quartet Opus 12,