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

Historical organ composition
The composer is thought to have created the pair of organ works early in his career

Newly discovered organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been revealed and executed in Germany for the initial occasion in over three centuries.

The country's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative called the unearthing of the two pieces a "important event for the global music scene".

They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was documenting the composer's papers at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ pieces - the Chaconne in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were undated and without attribution. Mr Wollny spent the subsequent thirty years working to verify the authorship of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

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

The compositions were played by organist from the Netherlands Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to present them for the first time in 320 years.

He said the pieces were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "a great asset for organists today, as they are also appropriate for smaller organs".

Musical Importance

They are believed to have been written during Bach's formative years, when he was working as an organ instructor in the town of the German town in central Germany.

The scholar, who is now the head of the Bach Archive in the municipality, said they displayed several features unique to the artist.

"Stylistically, the compositions also feature aspects that can be identified in Bach's works from that era, but not in those of different artists," he said.

They are believed to have been transcribed in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the musical student.

At a revealing of the works, the researcher said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had written the two compositions" and they have now been included into the recognized inventory of his musical output.

Connected Subjects:
  • European Culture
  • German Culture
  • Orchestral works
  • Music
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