[1] The Italian composer Luigi Boccherini was attached to the Court of the Spanish Infante, Luis Antonio (1727–85), brother of King Charles III of Spain (1759–88).

For having married a common citizen, King Charles exiled the Infante from the Madrid Court to the Arenas de San Pedro palace in Ávila province.

Van Gasteren analyzed the work by analogy with iconography and came across countless references to politics, religion, visual arts, theater and love.

He showed that the work with the technique of soggetto cavato and other symbolism contains references to, or is a serenade to, a secret love, the actress Maria del Rosario nicknamed La Tirana.

Composed for two violins, a viola, and two cellos, the Night Music of the Streets of Madrid quintet is in the C major key, and is approximately 13 minutes in duration.