🔗 Share this article Lost Johann Sebastian Bach Compositions Played for First Time in Three Centuries The composer is considered to have composed the pair of organ works at the start of his musical journey Newly discovered organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been presented and executed in Germany for the initial occasion in over three centuries. The country's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer described the finding of the two pieces a "important event for the musical community". They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in the early nineties when he was cataloguing historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium. The musical compositions - the D minor Chaconne and G minor composition - were dating unknown and unsigned. The scholar spent the following three decades working to confirm the origin of the pieces. Historic Performance They were presented at the historic Leipzig church in Leipzig, where the composer is laid to rest and where he served as a cantor for 27 years. The two pieces were played by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to present them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years. He said the compositions were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a valuable resource for modern musicians, as they are also suitable for more compact instruments". Cultural Relevance They are believed to have been created at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was employed as an music instructor in the community of the German town in central Germany. Mr Wollny, who is now the head of the musical archive in the municipality, said they demonstrated several qualities particular to the artist. "Musically, the pieces also include characteristics that can be observed in the composer's creations from this period, but not in those of different artists," he said. They are thought to have been transcribed in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, the musical student. At a revealing of the pieces, the expert said he was "virtually certain that the composer had written the two compositions" and they have now been included into the official catalogue of his works. Associated Topics: European Arts German Culture Classical compositions Performance Arts