He studied under Felix Weingartner among others. In 1926 he founded the Basle Chamber Orchestra to play works written before the Classical period and modern works. He commissioned works from many well known composers, including Igor Stravinsky (who provided him with the Concerto in D), Béla Bartók (Divertimento and the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta), Paul Hindemith, Hans Werner Henze, Elliott Carter and Harrison Birtwistle. Pierre Boulez' Messagesquisse was one of a number of pieces celebrating Sacher's seventieth birthday.