A friend of Mozart in Mannheim and Paris, and later in Munich, Georg Wenzel Ritter was among the leading bassoonists of his time. He served in the famous Mannheim orchestra and in Munich before joining the musical establishment of King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, at a generous salary reflecting the high esteem in which he was held. His Six Quartets, for bassoon and string trio, are testimony to his skills both as a composer and a player.