The work was written for a chamber ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello with optional double bass (it is often performed today with more than one person to a part). The opening tune of the first movement is widely known. This first movement is an allegro in sonata form, with the first subject of the exposition in the key of G major and the second subject in D major. The exposition is then repeated. The development section touches on D minor and C major before the work returns to G major for the recapitulation (a repetition of the exposition with both subjects in the same key, as is convention).
The second movement is a "Romanze", the third is a minuet and trio in ternary form, and the fourth and last is in rondo form.