Quintet Format

I hope this does not seem like a stupid question to ask but is there a definitive format when writing an instrumental quintet?

All of my music books as well as google are not being any help in turning up answers.

A quintet can be any combination of instruments you wish. There are some standards (such as a woodwind quintet), but you can use whatever combination you wish...remember though, it's about balancing the sounds of separate instruments.

Thanks. I was wondering more in terms of is there a set number of movements or a general format? (ie. tempos of movements etc.)

Not at all, a quintet is just the style of ensemble, you can write music in any form you wish.

That's quite helpful. Thank you.

in a very generalized sense, if you entitle your work "Quintet", other than the fact that there are 5 instrumentalists, there COULD be an expectation of more or less the same vague idea as when one writes a "string quartet"... ie: basically a sonata for multiple instruments.

So in only the most generalized sense, titling a work "quintet" COULD have the listener expect to hear 3 or 4 movements, with more or less the same "alternating fast/slow" disposition one would find in a sonata or symphony.

but basically, hey, it's up to you.

you could write a "quintet" that is made up of 12 adagio movements,

or a perfectly "classically" formed "sonata-allegro/scherzo/adagio/rondo" four-movement structure.

as for ensemble make-up, well some ensembles are pre-existing, like the woodwind quintet (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn). So calling a work "woodwind quintet" but NOT using this particular group of instruments might cause confusion, but certainly not "drama" hehehehehe

On the other hand, a string quintet COULD be a number of dispositions.

It could be 2 violins, 2 violas, 1 cello

or 3 violins, 1 viola 1 cello

or 2 violins, 1 viola, 2 celli

or 2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello, 1 contrabass.

as long as the ensemble is relatively well-balanced... and even then!

you could probably get away with writing a work for 1 violin and 4 contrabasses if you were particularly brilliant. (although your chances of getting it performed are always weaker when you break from the more-or-less standard make-up)

Qc has covered the string combinations; all could probably be considered "standard" given who's written for them historically except perhaps 3 violins, 1 viola 1 cello.

A mixed wind/string combination that I find works well is Prokofiev's (oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass, although this formation has been little picked up by anybody else.

Thanks to everyone who answered this thread, I have gathered all the answers I was looking for. :)

you could write a "quintet" that is made up of 12 adagio movements,

PLEASE don't write a quintet with 12 adagio movements... I would cry... haha.