kvintti

Kvintti is a Finnish term meaning quintet. It has two main meanings in music: the interval of a fifth between two pitches, and a group of five musicians performing together. The word derives from Latin quintus and entered Finnish through European languages.

In music theory, kvintti denotes the interval spanning seven semitones, commonly called the perfect fifth in English. It is one of the most consonant intervals and underpins much of Western tonal harmony; examples include C–G and D–A.

In performance contexts, kvintti designates a five-person ensemble. The usual Finnish term for such a group is kvintetti. Typical formations include string quintet (two violins, a viola, a cello, and a fifth instrument such as a second cello or a double bass), wind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn), and piano quintet (piano with a string quartet). Repertoire spans classical, Romantic, and contemporary music, with many works written specifically for these formations.

In Finnish usage, kvintti thus functions in education, performance, and criticism as both a theoretical interval and a practical designation for five-player ensembles, reflecting its central role in European music tradition.