Mendelssohn’s Organ Sonatas, Op 65, date from the last part of his truncated career (1844) and were commissioned by the London publisher Charles Coventry. Drawing on some earlier material originating as far back as 1829, as well as newly minted music, Mendelssohn created a durable, melodically memorable, harmonically satisfying and richly varied set of six stalwarts which, since their first appearance in print in 1845, have maintained a central place in many organists’ repertory, usefully providing both recital pieces and liturgical voluntaries. Although they require a fully developed manual technique (several movements are, frankly, idiomatically better suited to the piano) and demand varying degrees of pedal agility, they fully explore the organ’s possibilities as an expressive instrument.

They also comfortably fit on a single disc. As a bonus Anders Eidsten Dahl has added a 36-minute CD of the nine organ pieces without opus numbers. These include what might best be termed prototypes of movements which went into the Op 65 set, and it is fascinating to compare first and second drafts. Dahl plays on a medium-size, 44-stop, three-manual organ in Oslo’s Sofienberg Church. The warm acoustic’s lack of reverberation suits this music, allowing Mendelssohn’s contrapuntal mastery to be admired. The organ’s ‘Ekkoverk’ department is also ideal, being especially effective in the First Sonata.

Dahl’s playing is robust in the strong, energetic music and delicately lyrical and expressive in the Lieder ohne Worte-like andantes. There are very few mistakes (just one misreading in the pedals in the first movement of Sonata No 3 and a misbalancing of the left-hand dynamic in the Cantilena of Sonata No 4).

All in all this is a forthright, warm and polished account, enhanced by the bonus disc and excellent notes and packaging. A strong contender against other first-rate recordings.