Missing Johann Sebastian Bach Compositions Presented for First Time in Over Three Centuries
Recently identified organ compositions by the musical genius Bach have been presented and executed in the central European country for the initial occasion in 320 years.
The country's Minister of Culture the cultural official called the discovery of the two pieces a "important event for the global music scene".
They initially attracted notice of a Bach researcher in the early nineties when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Belgian royal collection.
The organ pieces - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were undated and anonymous. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to verify the origin of the pieces.
Memorable Concert
They were played at the St Thomas Church in the German city, where Bach is buried and where he served as a church musician for over two decades.
The two pieces were played by Dutch organist the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to perform them for the premiere in 320 years.
He said the works were "of a very high quality" and would be "a valuable resource 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 serving as an music instructor in the municipality of the German town in Thuringia.
The scholar, who is now the leader of the Bach Archive in the city, said they demonstrated several features unique to the artist.
"In terms of style, the pieces also feature elements that can be found in the composer's creations from this period, but not in those of different artists," he said.
They are considered to have been written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, Salomon Günther John.
At a presentation of the works, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that Bach had composed the two compositions" and they have now been added into the recognized inventory of his musical output.
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