The third Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert, given by internationally-renowned organist Dr Jennifer Bate, was an appropriately solemn but enjoyable occasion, held to commemorate the life of the former Christ Church graduate whose life ended tragically early in February 2006, when he was only 36. An exceptionally gifted man, his work in theoretical physics earned him many plaudits, while his hobbies included a passion for the harpsichord and organ.

It is this passion that inspired the series of memorial concerts launched three years ago and given — appropriately — in Christ Church Cathedral. His love for baroque music, and J.S. Bach in particular, has already been reflected in the two previous programmes, by Thomas Trotter and Simon Preston, and was again at this year’s recital, in which three popular Bach pieces were interspersed with numbers by Buxtehude and Mendelssohn.

After a short introduction, during which the audience was given an overview of Chamblin’s life and achievements, Bate opened with Bach’s Chorale Partita ‘O Gott du frommer Gott’, which was delivered movingly and expressively, with beautifully shaped phrasing and well controlled tempo. In the Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C there were some wonderful contrasts in playing style, from vigorous energy in the Toccata to some smoothly flowing serenity in the Adagio. The Prelude and Fugue in D, which formed the finale to the evening, were also delivered with a fine sense of contrast, from the tender lyricism of the Prelude to a greater vigour in the Fugue.

In between were Buxtehude’s Ciacona in E minor, in which Bate captured the elegance and grace of the composer’s style in these repeated variations, and Mendelssohn’s Sonata No 3, which Bate delivered in fine majestic style for the con moto maestoso before closing with a memorably peaceful Andante tranquillo.

For more information about the Andrew Chamblin Memorial Fund, and for details of how to make a donation, visit www.andrewchamblin.org.