🔗 Share this article

Recently identified organ compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and played in Germany for the first time in over three centuries.

Germany's Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer labeled the finding of the two pieces a "important event for the world of music".

They first caught the attention of Peter Wollny in 1992 when he was documenting Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ pieces - the Chaconne in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were undated and anonymous. The scholar spent the subsequent thirty years working to confirm the identity of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were presented at the St Thomas Church in the German city, where Bach is laid to rest and where he worked as a cantor for twenty-seven years.

The two pieces were played by Dutch musician the musical performer, who said he was honored to be able to present them for the initial performance in over three centuries.

He said the compositions were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a great asset for modern musicians, as they are also suitable for reduced-scale organs".

Cultural Relevance

They are thought to have been composed at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was serving as an organ teacher in the community of Arnstadt in the German region.

The scholar, who is now the head of the Bach research center in the municipality, said they displayed several features particular to the artist.

"Stylistically, the works also feature elements that can be found in the composer's creations from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are believed to have been written down in 1705 by a student of Bach, the historical figure.

At a unveiling of the compositions, the expert said he was "virtually certain that Bach had written the pair of works" and they have now been incorporated into the official catalogue of his works.