The British Musical Biography

[E] Bache, Walter, pianist, born at Edgbas-
ton, Birmingham, June 19, 1842. Fourth son
of the Rev. Samuel Bache. Educated at the
Proprietary School, Edgbaston. Began the
study of music under James Stimpson, and at
the age of 16 (August 1858) proceeded to
Leipzig, studying at the Conservatorium, un-
der Plaidy, Moscheles, Hauptmann, and Rich-
ter. At the end of three years, he left Leipzig,
and visited Milan and Floi-ence, where he
began to give lessons. In 1862, he went to
Rome and studying for three years with Liszt,
formed a life-long friendship with the illus-
trious artist. In May, 1865, he settled in
London as a teacher and performer. He gave
his first concert, in conjunction with Mr.
Gustave Garcia, in Collard's Rooms, July 4,
1865, and then began that ardent champion-
ship of the claims of Liszt as a composer that
lasted to the end of his life. The concerts
were gradually extended, and the services of
an orchestra requisitioned in 1871, when Bache
played the Concerto in E flat, and gave the
symphonic poem, " Les Preludes " — intro-
duced in 1865 for two pianos — with full or-
chestra. Other modern composers were not
overlooked, for works by Wagner, Berlioz,
and Schumann, were introduced from time to
time. But his affection for Liszt was strongest
and his last recital, October 22, 1887, was
exclusively devoted to that master. Un-
daunted by hostile criticism, or financial loss,
Bache went on with his propagandism, and if
he did not succeed in what he felt to be his
mission, he did more than any one to break
down that conservatism in music that was a
positive hindrance to the art in this country.
Bache's reception to Liszt at the Grosvenor
GaUery, April 8, 1886, was a memorable inci-
dent of the great pianist's last visit to this
country. He was an active promoter of the
Liszt Scholarship at the Royal Academy of
Music ; the Scholarshiji to his own memory
was incorporated in that of the man he so
revered. Bache died, after a few days' illness,
March 26, 1888, and was interred in the ceme-
tery at West Hampstead. He had, for some
years, been a professor of the pianoforte at
the R.A.M.

[+] Among the works of Liszt brought forward
at Bache's concerts, the following were per-
formed in England for the first time : — The
" Faust " Symphony, March 11, 1880 ; Sym-
phonic poem, " Les Preludes," May 26, 1871 ;
Scena, " Jeanne d'Arc au biicher," for soprano
solo and orchestra ; Angelus, strings, February
5, 1885 ; Fantasia quasi Sonata, " Apris une
Lecture du Dante," February 21, 1887. The
Legend of Saint Elizabeth was first performed
in England, by the New Philharmonic Society,
June 15, 1870, anticipating Bache, who brought
out the work, February 24, 1876.

entry id: 21-L-31