German cellist and composer Hugo Schlemuller was born in 1872 in Konigsberg and died in 1918 in Bad Orb and worked also as a music teacher, critic and publisher. He performed as a cello virtuoso in Munich and from 1902 taught at the Hochschule in Frankfurt, founding his own publishing company in 1910. He composed and arranged many works for the young and progressing cellist alongside study and educational material for the instrument.

Forward March! Op.14, No.6 is originally for cello and piano, adapted for the young bassist by David Heyes, who has created a version for double bass quartet which is also playable by larger forces. The music is lively and fun, offering musical and technical challenges in equal measure, with an energetic and happy forward momentum. In ternary form, the melodic interest is shared between the players with each part being carefully arranged to suit a specific ability level.

Bass 1 plays primarily in low thumb position and bass 4 remains in 1st position only, with basses 2 and 3 playing the positions in between.

The bass quartet arrangement was created for the Bristol Bass Club and was first performed at the Colston Hall (Foyer) in Bristol in June 2016.