Long-Forgotten Johann Sebastian Bach Works Presented for First Time in Three Centuries

Historical organ composition
The composer is believed to have created the pair of organ works at the start of his musical journey

Newly discovered organ compositions by the renowned composer Bach have been revealed and executed in Germany for the premiere performance in three hundred twenty years.

Germany's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative described the discovery of the two pieces a "significant occasion for the global music scene".

They initially attracted notice of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was documenting historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were dating unknown and anonymous. The scholar spent the following three decades working to authenticate the authorship of the pieces.

Historic Performance

They were performed at the historic Leipzig church in the German city, where the composer is buried and where he was employed as a cantor for over two decades.

The two pieces were executed by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to perform them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

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

Cultural Relevance

They are thought to have been created at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was serving as an organ instructor in the municipality of the Thuringian town in Thuringia.

Mr Wollny, who is now the head of the Bach Archive in the city, said they exhibited several characteristics unique to the artist.

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

They are thought to have been transcribed in 1705 by a student of Bach, the musical student.

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

Related Categories:
  • European Culture
  • German Culture
  • Classical music
  • Music
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