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Newly discovered organ compositions by the renowned composer Bach have been unveiled and played in Germany for the initial occasion in three hundred twenty years.

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

They initially attracted notice of a musical scholar in the early nineties when he was organizing Bach manuscripts at the Brussels archive.

The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were dating unknown and without attribution. The researcher spent the following three decades working to verify the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were played at the Thomas Church in Leipzig, where the composer is buried and where he worked as a church musician for over two decades.

The compositions were performed by Dutch musician Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

He said the compositions were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "an important addition for contemporary organ players, as they are also suitable for smaller organs".

Historical Significance

They are considered to have been written during Bach's formative years, when he was employed as an organ instructor in the town of the Thuringian town in Thuringia.

The researcher, who is now the head of the Bach research center in the city, said they displayed several features distinctive to the composer.

"Musically, the works also include elements that can be found in Bach's compositions from that time, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are believed to have been written down in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the historical figure.

At a presentation of the pieces, the researcher said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had created the two pieces" and they have now been included into the official catalogue of his musical output.