Missing Bach Pieces Played for First Time in Three Centuries

Historical organ composition
Bach is thought to have written the pair of organ works during his early years

Recently identified organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and played in the central European country for the initial occasion in three hundred twenty years.

Germany's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative labeled the finding of the two pieces a "important event for the global music scene".

They first caught the attention of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was documenting the composer's papers at the Brussels archive.

The organ works - the D minor Chaconne and G minor composition - were undated and unsigned. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to confirm the identity of the pieces.

Historic Performance

They were played at the Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where Bach is buried and where he served as a cantor for over two decades.

The pair of works were played by Dutch musician the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the initial performance in 320 years.

He said the pieces were "of a very high quality" and would be "a great asset for organists today, as they are also well-suited for smaller organs".

Cultural Relevance

They are thought to have been composed during Bach's formative years, when he was working as an organ instructor in the municipality of the Thuringian town in the German region.

The scholar, who is now the director of the Bach research center in the city, said they demonstrated several characteristics distinctive to the artist.

"In terms of style, the compositions also feature aspects that can be observed in the composer's creations from that era, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are thought to have been written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, the musical student.

At a unveiling of the pieces, the researcher said he was "99.99% sure that the composer had written the two pieces" and they have now been included into the official catalogue of his compositions.

Related Categories:
  • European Culture
  • German Heritage
  • Orchestral works
  • Musical Arts
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