Violinist Leopold Jansa had started a string quartet in 1845. Hellmesberger took over from Jansa in 1849, retaining the other members.[1] Its initial composition was:
Hellmesberger's son, Joseph Hellmesberger Jr., joined the quartet in 1870 to play the second violin and became leader in 1891.
Ferdinand Hellmesberger, the son of Joseph Sr. and brother of Joseph Jr., joined in 1883 to play the cello.
Importance
The Quartet played an important role in Vienna's musical life through the performance of quartets from Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, and Franz Schubert, premiering several of Brahms' and Schubert's chamber works.[3]
Potter, Tully (1999). "From chamber to concert hall". In Stowell, Robin (ed.). The Cambridge Companion to the String Quartet. Cambridge University Press. p. 44. ISBN0-521-00042-4.