The String Quartet in G minor by Anton Wranitzky (1761-1820) is one of the great works that combine stylistic devices developed by the turn of the century, such as the development of the sonata form by his thematic-motivic work, the contrasting effects of sound and structure, and the equal standard of all five parts. It is the first of the three Quintets Op. 8 with double violas and cellos. Unique in its instrumentation, they broaden the sound spectrum of the Boccherinian type with two cellos and some early quintets with three violins and two cellos, thus revealing the wealth of variants in the string quintet instrumentation which is typical of the genre.

Also edited by Tilman Sieber, the volume 'Das klassische Streichquintett. Die Geschichte einer Gattung in Einzelwerken' (Musikalische Denkmäler, vol. IX, Mainz 2005, Schott, order no. MD 9) contains detailed information on the sources and a critical report.