From the publisher: “For 2 violins, viola and violoncello (London 1769), edited by Günter and Leonore von Zadow. Abel was one of the leading musicians in England and had already published 18 highly acclaimed symphonies and numerous trios and sonatas. Each quartet consist of three movements following the fast-slow-fast pattern, with the slow middle movements being particularly impressive. The four parts are equal, with numerous imitations between them, but there are also homophonic sections. In the 18th century, there were numerous reprints and copies of these quartets in European countries, clearly demonstrating how popular these pieces were.”