Lost Johann Sebastian Bach Works Presented for First Time in 320 Years
Newly discovered organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been presented and performed in the central European country for the initial occasion in over three centuries.
The nation's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer described the discovery of the two compositions a "significant occasion for the global music scene".
They initially attracted notice of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was documenting historical musical documents at the Brussels archive.
The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor and G minor composition - were undated and without attribution. Mr Wollny spent the following three decades working to verify the authorship of the pieces.
Memorable Concert
They were presented at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach is buried and where he served as a church musician for 27 years.
The two pieces were played by Dutch musician Ton Koopman, who said he was honored to be able to play them for the premiere in 320 years.
He said the works were "of a very high quality" and would be "a great asset for contemporary organ players, as they are also suitable for reduced-scale organs".
Historical Significance
They are considered to have been created early in Bach's career, when he was employed as an organ teacher in the town of the Thuringian town in Thuringia.
The scholar, who is now the head of the Bach Archive in the city, said they exhibited several features particular to the musical genius.
"Musically, the compositions also contain elements that can be found in Bach's works from that time, but not in those of any other composer," he said.
They are believed to have been written down in 1705 by a student of Bach, the musical student.
At a unveiling of the compositions, the expert said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had composed the two compositions" and they have now been incorporated into the official catalogue of his works.
- European Culture
- German Heritage
- Classical compositions
- Musical Arts