Francis Edward Bache (; 14 September 183324 August 1858) was an English organist and composer.

thumb|Francis Edward Bache

Born at Birmingham as the eldest of seven children of Samuel Bache, a well-known Unitarian minister, he studied with James Stimpson, Birmingham City Organist, and with violinist Alfred Mellon while being educated at his father's school. He played the violin in the 1846 Birmingham festival, and in 1849 went to London as a private composition student for three years under William Sterndale Bennett

In October 1850 Bache became organist of All Saints, Gordon Square. While continuing his studies with Sterndale Bennett, Bache composed concertos, overtures, two operettas, a string quartet and a piano trio along with many piano pieces. He made his debut as a concert performer at Keighley, Yorkshire on 21 January 1851. When he played the Allegro of an unpublished piano concerto of his own in June 1852, Henry Chorley remarked, "We have met with no Englishman for whom we have so long been waiting than Mr. Bache." In November 1851 Bache went to live with Mellon, who was then living in London, and in 1852 was given a contract by Addison, Hollier and Lucas to write light piano pieces; he turned out these works in considerable numbers. Of one of these he wrote, "I must say that I would sooner have written my Galop di Bravura than a Sonata which is only printed to lie on the shelf like a dead weight on account deficiency of anything like idea."

His younger brother, Walter Bache (1842–1888), was a successful pianist and conductor.

A memoir of the two brothers, by their sister Constance Bache, appeared in 1901 under the title Brother Musicians.

Selected works

  • Andante and Allegro in D major, for organ
  • 5 Charakterstücke for piano, op. 15 (pub. 1855)
  • Duo brillante for violin and piano
  • Flute Concerto (1852)
  • 3 Impromptus for piano, op. 1
  • 4 Mazurkas de Salon, op. 13 (pub. 1855)
  • 6 Melodies, songs for voice and piano, op. 16 (1850)
  • Piano Concerto in E major, op. 18 (1856)
  • Piano Trio in D minor, op. 25 (c. 1852, pub. 1865)
  • Polonaise for piano and orchestra, op. 9 (1854)
  • 2 Romances for violin and piano (or cello and piano), op. 21 (pub. 1859)
  • Rubezahl, opera (1852)
  • Souvenirs d'Italie for piano, op. 19
  • Souvenirs de Torquay for piano, op. 26 (pub. 1859)
  • String Quartet in F major, (1851)
  • Which is Which, opera

References

Bibliography

  • Bache, Constance, Brother Musicians: Reminiscences of Edward and Walter Bache (London: Methuen & Co., 1901).
  • Temperley, Nicholas, "Bache. English family of musicians. (1) Francis Edward Bache," The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, First Edition (London: Macmillan, 1980), 20 vols.