Vittorio Monti (1868-1922) is known the world over for his magnificent 'Czardas' - now arranged for almost every solo instrument or ensemble - but few other of his compositions are known.

Gentil Bataillon is originally for 2 mandolins and piano, but the original publication also lists a number of other arrangements of the piece, and was arranged for double bass octet by David Heyes in January 2012. The music is lively and energetic, full of energy and good humour, and transcribes well for double bass ensemble. The melodic material is shared between the players and the use of harmonics helps to create a work of height and depth not usually associated with massed basses.

This would be a fun piece to end any massed bass concert, or as an encore, and was arranged for the double bass students at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK).

This edition includes a score and eight parts.

Italian composer, conductor and violinist, Vittorio Monti was born in Naples on 6 January 1868 and died on 20 June 1922. He studied at the Conservatorio di San Pietro a Majella with F. Pinto (violin) and Paolo Serrao (composition) and moved to Paris in 1886 where he studied violin with Camillo Sivori, Paganini's most famous pupil.

For many years Monti was a member of the Lamoureux Orchestra in Paris, also conducting the orchestra on occasions, and composed ballets, operettas and instrumental music during his years in the French capital.