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Recently identified organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been presented and executed in the European nation for the premiere performance in three hundred twenty years.

The country's Minister of Culture the cultural official called the discovery of the two pieces a "great moment for the global music scene".

They first caught the attention of Peter Wollny in 1992 when he was cataloguing historical musical documents at the Belgian royal collection.

The musical compositions - the D minor Chaconne and G minor Chaconne - were without dates and without attribution. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to verify the authorship of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were presented at the Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is buried and where he worked as a music director for over two decades.

The pair of works were played by Dutch musician Ton Koopman, who said he was honored to be able to perform them for the premiere in 320 years.

He said the pieces were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "an important addition for modern musicians, as they are also suitable for reduced-scale organs".

Musical Importance

They are believed to have been created at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was serving as an organ instructor in the town of Arnstadt in central Germany.

The scholar, who is now the head of the Bach research center in the city, said they displayed several features particular to the musical genius.

"In terms of style, the pieces also feature elements that can be found in Bach's works from that era, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are considered to have been transcribed in 1705 by a student of Bach, the historical figure.

At a revealing of the compositions, the expert said he was "virtually certain that Bach had created the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his musical output.