Long-Forgotten Bach Compositions Played for First-Ever Performance in Over Three Centuries

Historical organ composition
The composer is thought to have written the two organ pieces at the start of his musical journey

Recently identified organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and performed in the central European country for the initial occasion in 320 years.

The country's Culture Minister the government representative labeled the finding of the two pieces a "great moment for the world of music".

They originally drew interest of Peter Wollny in the early nineties when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Brussels archive.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were dating unknown and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the subsequent thirty years working to verify the origin of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were performed at the historic Leipzig church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is buried and where he worked as a church musician for over two decades.

The compositions were played by Dutch organist the renowned organist, who said he was privileged to be able to present them for the first time in over three centuries.

He said the pieces were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "an important addition for organists today, as they are also suitable for smaller organs".

Musical Importance

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

Mr Wollny, who is now the director of the Bach research center in the municipality, said they exhibited several features distinctive to the composer.

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

They are considered to have been written down in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the musical student.

At a revealing of the works, the expert said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had written the pair of works" and they have now been incorporated into the official catalogue of his works.

Associated Topics:
  • European Arts
  • German Heritage
  • Orchestral works
  • Music
Charles Cisneros
Charles Cisneros

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