Lost Bach Pieces Played for First-Ever Performance in Over Three Centuries

Historical organ composition
Bach is believed to have created the pair of organ works early in his career

Recently identified organ works by the musical genius Bach have been revealed and played in the European nation for the first time in 320 years.

The nation's Culture Minister the cultural official labeled the discovery of the pair of works a "great moment for the world of music".

They initially attracted notice of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Brussels archive.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were without dates and unsigned. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to verify the origin of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were performed at the Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach is interred and where he worked as a music director for over two decades.

The pair of works were played by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the first time in 320 years.

He said the compositions were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a great asset for modern musicians, as they are also appropriate for smaller organs".

Musical Importance

They are considered to have been composed early in Bach's career, when he was employed as an music instructor in the community of Arnstadt in Thuringia.

The scholar, who is now the director of the Bach research center in Leipzig, said they displayed several characteristics unique to the composer.

"Musically, the compositions also contain aspects that can be identified in the composer's creations from that time, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are thought to have been transcribed in 1705 by a student of Bach, Salomon Günther John.

At a revealing of the works, Mr Wollny said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had composed the two compositions" and they have now been added into the recognized inventory of his works.

Associated Topics:
  • Europe
  • German Heritage
  • Classical music
  • Musical Arts
Hannah Ponce
Hannah Ponce

Wildlife biologist specializing in tropical ecosystems, with a passion for sloth research and environmental advocacy.

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