Quintette

Quintette, also spelled quintet, is a term used in music to denote a group of five musicians or a composition written for five performers. In English, quintet is the standard form, while quintette is a variant spelling found in older literature and in French-language sources, and sometimes in the titles of ensembles or works.

Common quintet formats include string quintet (two violins, two violas, and a cello); piano quintet (piano with a string quartet); wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn); brass quintet (two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba); and vocal quintet (five singers). Each format has developed a substantial repertoire and performance practice within its idiom.

Repertoire highlights include Mozart’s five string quintets, written for two violins, two violas, and cello; Beethoven’s early string quintets; and Schubert’s late String Quintet in C major, D. 956, for a standard string quintet, as well as his Trout Quintet for piano quintet. The wind and brass quintet traditions also produced influential works in the Classical, Romantic, and modern periods, along with ongoing contemporary compositions.

In practice, quintets remain a core category in chamber music, employed by professional ensembles, student groups, and composers across classical, contemporary, and crossover genres. The term continues to cover a variety of five-performer formations, reflecting both historical conventions and evolving musical styles.

Etymology and spellings: The name derives from French quintette; in English usage, quintet is common, with quintette appearing mainly in older or French-influenced sources.