St. Mark's Church was packed on Friday evening when Andrew Lucas, organist from St. Paul's Cathedral in London, gave a special concert to celebrate the renovation and enlargement of the organ.

He is no stranger to the Island, having performed as a regular guest organist at St. Mark's for the past ten years. This in no way detracted from the impact, both of his superb musicianship and the now virtuoso resources of the rebuilt organ.

With the powerful new trumpet stops, massive Bombarde pipes and computerised tone generation system at his disposal, Andrew Lucas chose a positively sparkling programme that enabled him to show off all its (and his) capabilities.

Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor got the evening off to a triumphant start as the stirring introduction gave way to a rapid interweaving of the underlying melody before returning to its resonant climax. Lucas immediately confirmed his complete command of this difficult instrument in this ever-popular work.

He was able to fully explore the lyric possibilities of the organ in the Variations on Mein Junges Leben hat ein End, a triste little piece that has endured for around 400 years. It was written by the Dutch composer and one of the most famous organists of his time, Jan Sweelinck, and is suffused with the courtly melodies of that era.

Mendelssohn's Third Sonata in A was one of six written by the composer in England; the first, majestic movement gave full rein to the new trumpet pipes, leading in to the quietly flowing andante tranquillo .

The French composer Cesar Franck became an organ professor at the Paris Conservatory and wrote some major works for that instrument. The Prelude, Fugue and Variation is one of them and is imbued with a rich tapestry of melodic invention as the final variations expand, in an almost dreamy reverie, the opening theme.

Purcell's Trumpet Tune and Air is probably the best known of all organ pieces, epitomising the unique appeal of English 17th century music. Here, the new trumpet pipes were revealed in all their glory as the uplifting melody soared to the rafters. Played by Lucas with a rare and bright elegance, it brought a shiver to the spine.

Edwin Lemare, born in Victorian England, where he trained as an organist at the Royal Academy of Music before moving to America, was also a successful composer. His Andantino in D Flat is better known as Moonlight and Roses - and certainly, it was to this audience. Imperceptibly, as the familiar tune wove its nostalgic spell, there could be heard a quiet, but definite hum-along. Far from being intrusive, this audience participation took the form of a spontaneous tribute, rather like the `prommers' who take up the tune of Home, Sweet Home when it is played at the last night of the Proms in London.

The evening came to a thrilling finale with French composer Louis Vierne's Carillon de Westminster, as might be expected, a musical variation on the chimes of Big Ben. This was a marvellously atmospheric piece, with the huge `bells' echoing sonorously, then rising through intricate scales and chords to the great crescendo as the thundering gongs rang majestically through the evening air.

The new organ could hardly have had a more inspiring christening from this consummate musician. Perhaps the surprise of the evening was that this instrument, which can now produce an impressively versatile array and range of sound, can be so very appealing.

PATRICIA CALNAN CELEBRATING MUSIC -- From left, Karen Foster, Andrew Lucas, and Adrian Ridgeway with the newly restored St. Mark's Church organ prior to Friday night's performance.