Prelude and Fugue in E BWV566 - Bach Ciacona in E minor BuxWV160 - Buxtehude

Sonata in A Op 65 No 3 - Mendelssohn

Toccata Octava - Eberlin

Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir BWV686 - Bach

Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr BWV663 - Bach

Prelude and Fugue in C BWV547 - Bach

Sunday's recital at St Michael's, Dun Laoghaire, was given by Cork-born, London-resident Colm Carey, not only the most successful, but also, on the evidence of Sunday's performances, the most distinctive and accomplished Irish organist under 30.

He opened with a flourish, in Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E, BWV566, a piece notable for its Buxtehude-like features, played here with flexible energy and sharply-etched embellishments. He followed with a piece by Buxtehude himself, the calm but deeply expressive Ciacona in E minor, before moving on to the most popular of Mendelssohn's six sonatas, the one in A major, which he projected with sensitive firmness.

The Toccata by the littleknown Johann Ernst Eberlin (1702-1762) provided a light and colourful prelude to what was to be the most rewarding part of the evening, three contrasting works by Bach, each brought off with character, style and technical aplomb.

The pedal-rich, six-part Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir was notable for its imposing gravitas. Allein Gott in der Hoh sei Ehr, with its decorated tenor cantus firmus, was essayed with lovely fluidity. And the Prelude and Fugue in C, BWV547, was delivered with undemonstrative yet spirit-lifting virtuosity.