String Quartet No. 5 combines song, dance-like sections, and fugal elements. The first movement has two parts with the second as the longer of the two. Commencing with a pick-up reiteration of chords in ascending intervals, out of which emerges a rhythmic motive, first piano then expanding dynamically, the movement alternates between fugal like and strophic sections. A lyrical duet in the violins appears at the center of the second part followed by the rush and rhythmic energy of the triplet figures in strophic style and ringing chords of open fifths that occurred previously at the end of the first section.

Three preparatory chords in ascending order from the cello to the viola launch the bird-song of the first violin solo. Sparse in accompaniment at first, the lower three instruments gradually complement the solo first with sustained lines, then rhythmic accompaniment, then antiphonal echoing, and then homorhythmic accompaniment. The movement alternates between fast and slow tempi, with violins alternating with viola and cello, ornamented rhythmic episodes to lyrical passages into the final A major chord with the added G sharp and D.

© Joan Whittemore, All Music Guide