Long-Forgotten Johann Sebastian Bach Pieces Played for First Time in Over Three Centuries
Recently identified organ compositions by the musical genius Bach have been revealed and played in the European nation for the first time in over three centuries.
Germany's Minister of Culture the cultural official labeled the finding of the pair of works a "significant occasion for the global music scene".
They originally drew interest of Peter Wollny in 1992 when he was organizing the composer's papers at the Belgian royal collection.
The organ pieces - the D minor Chaconne and G minor Chaconne - were without dates and anonymous. The scholar spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the identity of the pieces.
Historic Performance
They were played at the St Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where Bach is buried and where he was employed as a church musician for 27 years.
The pair of works were played by Dutch organist the musical performer, who said he was honored to be able to present them for the premiere in 320 years.
He said the pieces were "of a very high quality" and would be "a valuable resource for organists today, as they are also well-suited for reduced-scale organs".
Cultural Relevance
They are believed to have been written early in Bach's career, when he was working as an organ teacher in the municipality of the Thuringian town in central Germany.
Mr Wollny, who is now the head of the musical archive in the city, said they demonstrated several qualities particular to the artist.
"Musically, the pieces also include aspects that can be found in Bach's compositions from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.
They are thought to have been written down in 1705 by a student of Bach, Salomon Günther John.
At a presentation of the pieces, Mr Wollny said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had created the pair of works" and they have now been added into the authoritative listing of his musical output.
- Europe
- German Heritage
- Classical compositions
- Musical Arts