I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Menuetto. Allegretto
IV. Andante con variazioni



Btw, for further info on the life and career of Eduard Franck then see my blog review of his first string quintet (the link is in the list linked below).
Anyhow, Franck composed his 2nd String Quintet around 1870 but being the ergectionost he was it wasn't published until 1897 and not by him. It was actually his son, the composer Richard Franck, who got the raw work published 4 years after his father's death. Still the work was unjustly neglected and remained fully-formed in manuscript until Eduard Franck's grandson, Professor Dr. Paul Franck and great grandson, Dr. Andreas Franck, arranged it for performance and the sole recording (see below).
Although not as initially appealing to these ears as his 1st Quintet it's still a very worthwhile piece full of inventive ideas and decent melodies. Like the 1st Quintet, the ghost of Mendelssohn is not far away and first makes it's presence known in the opening movement, Allegro. A fine, lyrical melody and first theme opens the show, soon followed by a surprisingly brisker but more romantically impassioned second subject. Lively rhythms bustle the music along then decelerate to heighten the emotional drama. With its clever counterpoint, at times it almost seems that we are going to burst into fugato but each time Franck draws the music back and he creates a lot of contrasting musical lines for both violins which occasionally drop a unison bar then head off on their different paths. The development section is bursting with skilful counterpoint at a much slower pace. My only criticism here is that at nearly 13 minutes perhaps the movement outstays it's welcome a little but the final coda is perfectly balanced and rounds things off perfectly.
The ensuing haunting Andante is, once more, slightly Mendelssohn is and begins dramatically until the second theme appears and the music moves from mysterious to tender and warm. Again, this is a longer movement but there's more to enjoy here and although I'd have liked a couple of minutes shaved off there's enough harmonic and textural material to carry it off and repeated listens do repay your faith.
The 3rd movement, Menuetto allegretto, is an intriguing affair and departure from what has already come. I was expecting more of a later minuet style but what you actually get is a quirky scherzo. I wasnt sure about it on first hearing but it's warmed on me considerably and its witty, charming atmosphere has really won me over. However, the best is left for last in a cracker of a finale where Franck gives us an excellent Andante theme with 10 superb variations. The music here is rich and brilliantly conceived, revelling in tonally expressive passages that vary in tempo, gradually moving away from the initial theme, inch by inch. The violin lines are interesting but it's the violas that really get to shine. The slowest of these variations is particularly expressive and deeply satisfying. The final variation is an especially plucky affair and rejoices in some excellent music-making.
As I said, I'm not as enthusiastic about the 2nd quintet as its predecessor but it's still a high quality work that you should definitely try for yourself.
Like the 1st Quintet there's just one recording by the Edinger Quintet (veterans Edinger, Kaiser, Kimstedt, Haiberg & Maechler. As in the previous recording the sound is very clear and detailed and Audite provide a very attractive soundstage for the players. Articulation is spot on and the interplay and balance of the players is impressive however this Quintet needs a bit more bite than the op.15 and as lovely as the Edinger are they don't pack enough of a wallop for me. As much as I heartily recommend this recording I'd love to hear both of Franck's excellent works (and especially this one) given a more dynamic treatment at the hands of a younger, vibrant, punchy ensemble (but doubt that will happen) For now there's lots to admire here.