Bacarisse studied piano and composition with the university arts faculty in Madrid. He was a leader in the Grupo de los Ocho, formed, like Les Six, to protest conservative trends in music. He promoted new music through his position as director of Unión Radio until 1936. His early works are harsh, dissonant and polytonal. Later, he tended toward a neo-romantic style with Spanish texts and flavor. He is remembered for his brilliant orchestration and the dramatic quality of his work.