Tre Gran Duetti for double bass duet date from the late 1830s, during Bottesini’s studies at Milan Conservatoire, and are dedicated to his double bass professor Luigi Rossi. Gran Duetto No.3 has two contrasting movements and is the shortest of the three. Bottesini exploits the lyrical and virtuosic possibilities of the double bass in music which is vibrant and engaging. The melodic material is shared between the two players, with opportunities to display more than simply technical accomplishment, and demonstrate Bottesini’s amazing talents as a fully-formed composer and soloist from his earliest studies. In 1835 Bottesini auditioned at Milan Conservatoire, having only studied the double bass for a few weeks, and commented to the audition panel "I know, Gentlemen, that
I play out of tune; but when I know where to place my fingers this shall not happenanymore.” He made exceptional progress and left the conservatoire in 1839, three years earlier than was usual, and Alfredo Piatti, the celebrated cellist and fellow student remarked that Bottesini was fully formed as soloist when he left the conservatoire and the only thing he gained was experience.
