A wind quintet, also called a woodwind quintet, is a group of five musicians who play wind instruments. These instruments are most often the flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, and bassoon.

Unlike a string quartet, which has four string instruments that create a similar sound, the instruments in a wind quintet are very different from each other in how they are played, the types of music they perform, and the quality of their sound. The modern wind quintet developed from a larger group of eight musicians that was popular in the court of Joseph II in late 18th-century Vienna. This group included two oboes, two clarinets, two natural horns, and two bassoons. Joseph Haydn’s music for small groups inspired similar ideas for wind instruments, and improvements in instrument design during that time made them better suited for small ensembles, encouraging composers to write music for smaller combinations.

Anton Reicha’s twenty-four quintets, started in 1811, and Franz Danzi’s nine quintets helped establish the wind quintet as a musical form. Their compositions are still widely performed today. Although the wind quintet was less popular in the second half of the 19th century, composers in the 20th century revived interest in the form. Now, the wind quintet is a standard chamber ensemble, valued for its ability to produce a wide range of sounds and its flexibility.

Notable wind quintet composers

• Antonio Rosetti (around 1750–1792) composed one quintet for flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, and bassoon.
• Johann Georg Albrechtsberger (1736–1809) composed a quintet for two oboes, clarinet, natural horn, and bassoon.
• Giuseppe Cambini (1746–1825) composed three quintets.
• Franz Danzi (1763–1826) composed nine quintets.
• Johann Georg Lickl (1769–1843) composed one quintet.
• Anton Reicha (1770–1836) composed twenty-four quintets, plus some separate pieces.
• George Onslow (1784–1853) composed one quintet, op. 81.
• Giulio Briccialdi (1818–1881) composed three quintets.
• Paul Taffanel (1844–1908) composed one quintet.
• August Klughardt (1847–1902) composed one quintet.

• Guy Ropartz (1864–1955) composed one quintet.
• Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) composed one quintet.
• Gustav Holst (1874–1934) composed one quintet.
• Heinrich Kaspar Schmid (1874–1953) composed one quintet.
• Arnold Schoenberg (1874–1951) composed one quintet.
• Theodor Blumer (1881–1964) composed four quintets.
• Percy Grainger (1882–1961) composed two quintets.
• Wallingford Riegger (1885–1961) composed one quintet.
• Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959) composed one quintet.
• Jacques Ibert (1890–1962) composed one quintet.
• Hendrik Andriessen (1892–1981) composed one quintet.
• Darius Milhaud (1892–1974) composed one quintet.
• Walter Piston (1894–1976) composed one quintet.
• Paul Hindemith (1895–1963) composed one quintet.
• Roberto Gerhard (1896–1970) composed one quintet.
• Carlos Chávez (1899–1978) composed one quintet.
• Ernst Krenek (1900–1991) composed two quintets.
• Ruth Crawford-Seeger (1901–1953) composed one quintet.
• Claude Arrieu (1903–1990) composed one quintet.
• Ferenc Farkas (1905–2000) composed one quintet.
• Mátyás Seiber (1905–1960) composed one quintet.
• Jaroslav Ježek (1906–1942) composed one quintet.
• Alec Wilder (1907–1980) composed twelve quintets.
• Otto Mortensen (1907–1986) composed one quintet.
• György Ránki (1907–1992) composed one quintet.
• Elliott Carter (1908–2012) composed two quintets.
• Vagn Holmboe (1909–1996) composed one quintet.
• Ljubica Maric (1909–2003) composed one quintet.
• Samuel Barber (1910–1981) composed one quintet.
• Josef Tal (1910–2008) composed one quintet.
• Jean Françaix (1912–1997) composed two quintets.
• Ingolf Dahl (1912–1970) composed one quintet.
• Alvin Lucier (1934–2021) composed one quintet.
• John Cage (1912–1992) composed one quintet.
• John Adams (1947– ) composed one quintet.
• Michael Tilson Thomas (1944– ) composed one quintet.
• Peter Maxwell Davies (1944–2023) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Lindberg (1958– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Andersson (1953– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Zetterström (1947–2021) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Nyman (1943–2023) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Lindberg (1958– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Andersson (1953– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Zetterström (1947–2021) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Nyman (1943–2023) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Lindberg (1958– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Andersson (1953– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Zetterström (1947–2021) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Nyman (1943–2023) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Lindberg (1958– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Andersson (1953– ) composed one quintet.
• Magnus Zetterström (1947–2021) composed one quint

Notable wind quintet repertoire

• Andriessen, Jurriaan, Sciarada Spagnuola [Spanish Charade] (1963)
• Arnold, Malcolm, Three Shanties, op. 4 (1943)
• Bach, Jan, Skizzen, Highgate Press [Sketches, Highgate Press] (1983)
• Barber, Samuel, Summer Music, op. 31 (1955)
• Baur, Jürg, Quintetto sereno [Serene Quintet] (1957–58)
• Beaser, Robert, Shadow and Light (1981)
• Bennett, Richard R., Concerto for Woodwind Quintet
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind Quintet (1955), Wind Quintet (1957)
• Berio, Luciano, Wind Quintet (1953), Wind

Notable wind quintets

• Artecombo
• Bergen Woodwind Quintet
• Cracow Golden Quintet (Polish)
• Danzi Quintet
• Dorian Wind Quintet
• Farkas Quintet Amsterdam (Dutch)
• Imani Winds
• LutosAir Quintet (Polish)
• New London Chamber Ensemble
• New York Woodwind Quintet
• Philharmonisches Bläserquintett Berlin (German)
• Quintet of the Americas
• Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet
• Vancouver Woodwind Quintet
• Vento Chiaro