Joseph Haydn discovered the string quartet genre almost by chance when he wrote some divertimenti a quattro for summer performances at the country estate of his patron, Carl Joseph von Fürnberg. These quartets, later published as Op. 1 and Op. 2, sparked the interest of amateur musicians, leading to Haydn's growing recognition as an exceptional musical talent. Despite this success, after these early works, Haydn initially turned to other musical duties with the Esterházy family and only returned to the string quartet after about ten years.
Upon his return, Haydn began composing the collections Op. 9 (around 1769), Op. 17 (1771), and Op. 20 (1772); these works played a crucial role in establishing the string quartet as an independent art form. They reflect Haydn's remarkable compositional development and mark the beginning of his extensive quartet output. Why Haydn began writing quartets again around 1769 remains unclear; possible explanations include the influence of Prince Nikolaus, inspiration from contemporaries such as Vanhal, D’Ordoñez, or Boccherini, or even the presence of the violin virtuoso Luigi Tomasini.
The quartets from Op. 9 and Op. 17 share common structures, such as an alternation between tranquil and lively movements, diverse musical expressions, and a balanced interplay between the instruments. Nevertheless, they differ: While Op. 17 is more subtle and less melodic than Op. 9, each quartet in the collection possesses its own distinct character, ranging from lyrical moments to complex contrapuntal passages.
The minor-key quartets from this period are particularly renowned for their rhetorical power and passionate expressiveness. The quartets in G major and D major from Op. 17 impressively demonstrate Haydn's compositional skill and his mastery of different voices. These works are characterized by a wide range of timbres and harmonic shifts, combining both melodic and contrapuntal techniques.
Haydn's string quartets are not only outstanding works of their era, but they also significantly shaped the further development of the quartet. Their influence on later composers like Beethoven is undeniable.