Long-Forgotten Bach Pieces Played for First Time in Three Centuries
Newly discovered organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been revealed and executed in the European nation for the initial occasion in three hundred twenty years.
Germany's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative called the finding of the two compositions a "great moment for the global music scene".
They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was documenting Bach manuscripts at the Brussels archive.
The organ works - the D minor Chaconne and G minor composition - were undated and anonymous. The researcher spent the following three decades working to verify the identity of the pieces.
Historic Performance
They were played at the St Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is laid to rest and where he was employed as a cantor for 27 years.
The compositions were performed by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was privileged to be able to play them for the first time in 320 years.
He said the compositions were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "an important addition for contemporary organ players, as they are also appropriate for reduced-scale organs".
Historical Significance
They are thought to have been created early in Bach's career, when he was employed as an organ instructor in the municipality of Arnstadt in the German region.
Mr Wollny, who is now the head of the musical archive in the municipality, said they exhibited several qualities particular to the artist.
"In terms of style, the works also feature characteristics that can be found in Bach's works from this period, but not in those of other musicians," he said.
They are believed to have been transcribed in 1705 by a student of Bach, Salomon Günther John.
At a unveiling of the compositions, Mr Wollny said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had created the pair of works" and they have now been included into the authoritative listing of his works.
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