As the preface to this collection of essays on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's string quintets notes, there are a minimal number of publications found for this genre ("geringe Anzahl von Publikationen . . . die man zu dieser Werkgruppe vorfindet" [p.7]). Given the pivotal importance of the five quintets of Mozart in the development of the traditional instrumentation of the genre, with pairs of both violins and violas (as opposed to Boccherini, who favored pairs of violins and cellos), this has always seemed rather startling. The Mozart quintets have always been favorite chamber pieces in the concert hall.