Tchaikovsky composed his first string quartet in 1871 in order to improve his dire financial situation. The 31-year-old’s salary as a harmony teacher at the Moscow Conservatory was insufficient to make ends meet, and he hoped to generate some income by performing the string quartet at a concert featuring his own music. Described by Eduard Hanslick as »a fleet-footed and rather piquant composition«, the work became hugely popular only a few years after its premiere; indeed, Hans von Bülow reported that it had »already gained a foothold in many of Germany’s cities.«