[1] Bate was born at Milehouse in the County Borough of Devonport, and received his first musical education from local teachers.
[2] He took to the piano early and by the age of 12 had secured a post as organist at Herbert Street Methodist Church in Devonport.
On his return to the UK in 1937 Bate was commissioned to compose the Concertino for piano and chamber orchestra, performed at the Eastbourne Music Festival in February 1938 with Frederic Lamond as the soloist, conducted by Kneale Kelly.
With Glanville-Hicks he moved to America in 1941 and saw great successes there, including a performance in February 1942 at Carnegie Hall of his Second Piano Concerto by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Thomas Beecham with the composer as soloist.
[2] Returning to the UK in 1949 (via Brussels and Paris), Bate found it hard to replicate his international successes at home.
However, the Violin Concerto No 3 (1947–50) received a successful performance at the Royal Festival Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra and Antonio Brosa soloist in 1953.
[15] Short of money and depressed by his lack of recognition, Bate died in 1959 aged 47, having suffered a breakdown a few months before.
[19] That same year, a recording of the Viola Concerto (1944–46) by Roger Chase and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell helped spark a modern revival of interest.