String Quartet

Hi, I'm starting some chamber music, which I haven't done much of. I'm thinking about beginning with a string quartet. So how does one go about orchestrating the string quartet? Are there some good examples of standard string quartet orchestration (maybe Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn etc.)? Are the four instruments playing like a choral, with counterpoint and harmony, or are they like a standard orchestra with 1st violin having melody, etc.? Any tips on how to compose a string quartet generally?

The same goes for other chamber pieces such as piano trio, piano quintet, string trio, piano quartet, etc... I'm looking for good, easy to analyze, standard pieces that represent the normal form. And advice would be great also. Thanks.

the questions are the answers...

study is always good. The names you mentioned are good to star with.

there are multiple textures possible. choral is one possibility. many others will seen as you start studying, because only a polyphonic texture gets dull (unless you want that)

I would advise to look in the archives here for string quartets as well. Magna Carta's string quartet (called 'textures') will show many extended techniques