This double album comprises all Brahms’s string quartets and quintets as performed by the Budapest Quartet. They succeeded in imposing chamber music on a musical world which only had ears for Beethoven. It served as a model for a whole generation of quartet musicians such as Berg, Pražák and Belcea, who in turn followed on from the likes of Julliard and Vegh. This is a tribute to Walter Trampler (1915-97), the great American violist.

The Budapest String Quartet was in existence from 1917-1967. It originally consisted of three Hungarians and a Dutchman; at the end, the quartet consisted of four Russians. A number of recordings were made for HMV/Victor until 1938; from 1940-1967 it recorded for Columbia Records.

Recorded in New York: January 1958 (Quintets), 1963 (Quartets)

Budapest Quartet:
- Josef Roisman (violin)
- Alexander Schneider (violin)
- Boris Kroyt (viola)
- Mischa Schneider (cello)