Pierre Vachon was born in Avignon in 1738. He was a brilliant violinist who performed on the greatest stages in Paris, London, and Berlin. In 1786, he was appointed Konzertmeister of the Royal Berlin Orchestra. He was also a composer who excelled in instrumental music: symphonies, sonatas, duets, trios, and especially some thirty exquisitely crafted string quartets, among the finest French productions of the late 18th century.

Parisian publishers used the term "concert quartet" to refer to works specifically composed with a focus on balance between the two violins, viola and cello, such as the six quartets published here. These works showcase each of the four parts in a beautifully textured contrapuntal style. They were intended for "amateurs" (a term that at the time referred to instrumentalists who were often very skilled) who enjoyed playing together.

The six quartets of opus XI are all very different from one another, although they are all in three movements, alternating modes and tempi, and open with a Moderato. These works last between 10 and 20 minutes. Unlike opus 7, number 2 of which is published by the Éditions du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, they do not include figured bass, which seems to favour an interpretation without basso continuo. These works can be compared to Gossec's previously published quartets.