🔗 Share this article

Previously unknown organ works by the musical genius Bach have been revealed and executed in the European nation for the first time in three hundred twenty years.

The country's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative described the unearthing of the two compositions a "important event for the world of music".

They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was organizing historical musical documents at the Brussels archive.

The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were without dates and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the subsequent thirty years working to confirm the identity of the pieces.

Historic Performance

They were performed at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where the composer is laid to rest and where he was employed as a cantor for 27 years.

The compositions were executed by organist from the Netherlands the musical performer, who said he was privileged to be able to present them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

He said the works were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a valuable resource for contemporary organ players, as they are also well-suited for reduced-scale organs".

Cultural Relevance

They are considered to have been written early in Bach's career, when he was working as an organ teacher in the municipality of Arnstadt in the German region.

The researcher, who is now the leader of the Bach Archive in the municipality, said they displayed several qualities unique to the artist.

"In terms of style, the works also feature aspects that can be identified in Bach's works from this period, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are considered to have been transcribed in the early eighteenth century by one of Bach's pupils, the historical figure.

At a unveiling of the works, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that Bach had composed the two pieces" and they have now been added into the recognized inventory of his compositions.