A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Bache, Walter

by W. Barclay Squire

BACHE, Walter, born at Birmingham June 19, 1842, a younger brother of Francis Edward Bache. He studied the pianoforte and theory under James Stimpson, organist of the Birmingham Town Hall. In Aug. 1858 he went to Leipzig, where he studied under Plaidy, Moscheles, Hauptmann and Richter. After a short stay in Milan and Florence, he went in the summer of 1862 to Rome, where for three years he received regular lessons from Liszt. In May 1865 Mr. Bache came to London, where he subsequently resided, with the exception of a short stay in Florence in 1871, where he had lessons from Hans von Bülow. Mr. Bache was chiefly known by his unflinching advocacy of Liszt's claims to be recognised as a composer of the first rank. For several years he gave orchestral and vocal concerts, at which he brought forward the following important works of his master, many of which had not been heard in London before:—Symphonische Dichtungen: Les Préludes, Orpheus, Tasso, Festklänge, Mazeppa; 'Von Fels zum Meer' march, Rhapsodie Hongroise, No. 4; 'The Legend of St. Elizabeth'; Psalm xiii.; Reapers' Chorus (Prometheus); 'Loreley;' 'Jeanne d'Arc'; Faust Symphony; Piano Concertos, nos. 1 and 2, and Fantasie über Ungarische Volksmelodien. During Liszt's visit to England in the spring of 1886 Mr. Bache gave a memorable reception at the Grosvenor Gallery on April 8, when the master played the finale of Schubert's 'Divertissement à la Hongroise,' and his own Hungarian Rhapsody in A minor. Mr. Bache was mainly instrumental in founding the Liszt Scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, where he was a professor of the piano. He died March 26, 1888.

[ W. B. S. ]