Quartet

A quartet is a group of four people or things. In music, it denotes both the ensemble and the composition performed by four performers. The word derives from the French quatuor, from Latin quattuor, meaning four.

In music, quartets are common across genres. A string quartet, the most established form in classical music, comprises two violins, a viola, and a cello. A piano quartet adds a piano to a string trio, making four performers. Vocal quartets feature four singers, often arranged in SATB or similar voice parts. Jazz quartets usually include piano, bass, drums, and a horn or guitar, with rarer configurations. Quartets may be composed of four voices or instruments, and a single piece can be written for four players of the same or mixed instruments. Many classical composers wrote works for string quartet, valued for its balance, independence of lines, and conversational texture. The term can also describe the repertoire for the ensemble and the ensemble itself, such as a chamber quartet.

Historical note: The string quartet emerged in the 18th century and became a central genre of the Classical era, with Joseph Haydn playing a key role; composers like Mozart and Beethoven expanded the form, pushing it toward greater structural and expressive variety.

Other uses: Outside music, quartet simply means a group of four individuals or items, including four-part vocal groups or any four-person team. In mathematics or science, the term can appear in compound names but is less standardized.