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Newly discovered organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been presented and executed in the central European country for the premiere performance in 320 years.

Germany's Minister of Culture the government representative labeled the discovery of the two pieces a "significant occasion for the musical community".

They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was organizing the composer's papers at the Brussels archive.

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

Historic Performance

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

The pair of works were played by Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who said he was privileged to be able to perform them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

He said the compositions were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "a great asset for contemporary organ players, as they are also well-suited for more compact instruments".

Cultural Relevance

They are considered to have been composed during Bach's formative years, when he was serving as an organ teacher in the community of Arnstadt in the German region.

The researcher, who is now the director of the Bach research center in the municipality, said they demonstrated several qualities particular to the artist.

"Musically, the compositions also include aspects that can be observed in Bach's works from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are believed to have been recorded in the early eighteenth century by Bach's apprentice, the historical figure.

At a revealing of the works, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that Bach had written the two compositions" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his compositions.