Born July 9 1929; died April 28 2012

Organist John Birch, who as the director of music at Chichester Cathedral was involved in commissioning Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, has died aged 82.

The Bernstein commission – Birch conducted the UK premiere in July 1965 – came during 22 years leading the music at the Cathedral, a tenure which began in 1958 and coincided with that of Walter Hussey as Dean, who also commissioned works from composers including Walton, Berkeley and Howells. Very much the rounded man of culture, Birch also shared Hussey's love of visual arts, as well as acting as musical adviser to Chichester Festival Theatre.

His achievement at Chichester – in terms of both musicianship and adventurous programming – is neatly caught by a Gramophone review from April 1968, of a release in a series called British Cathedrals and their Music:

‘Under John Birch, the master of the choristers, Chichester has for some years enjoyed an enviable reputation and this record catches them at their best, with a blend between the boys' and men's voices that one would go a long way to hear. The programme is the very stuff of the cathedral repertory, starting with Weelkes (who was organist at Chichester in the seventeenth century) and Byrd, and going by way of Purcell's moving anthem, Hear my Prayer, O God to the twentieth century music of another Chichester organist, FJ Read. Chichester has always been adventurous in its music so it is not surprising that the programme ends with a Magnificat by Bryan Kelly which eloquently proves that God is not mocked by syncopation. In between comes a little organ piece by the Tudor musician, Thomas Tomkins, charmingly played by Mr Birch.’

A decade later, the same reviewer simply stated: ‘John Birch has made the Chichester choir one of the finest of any cathedral in the country.’

Prior to Chichester Birch had been music director of All Saints Margaret Street, while his years after leaving the cathedral were just as fruitful. He served as director of music at Temple Church for 15 years (succeeding Sir George Thalben-Ball and handing over to Stephen Layton), during which time he became a Master of the Bench of Middle Temple, as well as working with the Royal Albert Hall as curator-organist, and performing regularly with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He taught at the Royal College of Music until 1997, and also served as president of the Royal College of Organists. Among his students were Stephen Disley, Simon Lindley, and Andrew Lucas - such was the reach of those he taught over so many years, that a service in his honour is even being held in Hawaii by a former pupil. Other honours included being granted Freedom of the City of London, and receiving a Lambeth degree of Doctor of Music.

Throughout his life Birch recorded widely - to the recordings from Chichester can be added a number with The Academy of St Martin the Fields, and others in repertoire as varied as Janáček's Glagolitic Mass for Decca and a recent disc of music by John Rutter conducted by the composer called 'A Song in Season', of which he was particuarly proud. Engaging and generous-spirited company, Birch had remained musically active right up until last month, recently performing in several concerts over a single weekend at the Royal Albert Hall.