Missing Johann Sebastian Bach Pieces Performed for First Time in 320 Years
Newly discovered organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and executed in the European nation for the first time in over three centuries.
The country's Cultural Affairs Minister the cultural official labeled the finding of the pair of works a "important event for the musical community".
They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was cataloguing historical musical documents at the Belgian royal collection.
The musical compositions - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were dating unknown and unsigned. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to confirm the origin of the pieces.
Landmark Presentation
They were presented at the historic Leipzig church in Leipzig, where the composer is interred and where he worked as a cantor for over two decades.
The compositions were performed by Dutch musician the renowned organist, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the first time in 320 years.
He said the pieces were "of a very high quality" and would be "an important addition for organists today, as they are also well-suited 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 municipality of Arnstadt in Thuringia.
The scholar, who is now the leader of the Bach Archive in the city, said they demonstrated several features unique to the musical genius.
"In terms of style, the pieces also include characteristics that can be observed in Bach's compositions from that time, 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 unveiling of the compositions, the researcher said he was "virtually certain that Bach had created the pair of works" and they have now been added into the official catalogue of his musical output.
- Europe
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