Lost Bach Compositions Performed for First Time in 320 Years
Newly discovered organ compositions by the renowned composer Bach have been unveiled and executed in the European nation for the first time in 320 years.
The nation's Culture Minister the cultural official called the finding of the pair of works a "significant occasion for the world of music".
They initially attracted notice of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was organizing the composer's papers at the Brussels archive.
The organ pieces - the Chaconne composition in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were undated and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the authorship of the pieces.
Landmark Presentation
They were performed at the historic Leipzig church in the German city, where Bach is interred and where he was employed as a church musician for over two decades.
The two pieces were played by Dutch musician the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the premiere in three hundred twenty years.
He said the works were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a great asset for organists today, as they are also suitable for reduced-scale organs".
Musical Importance
They are considered to have been composed early in Bach's career, when he was serving as an organ instructor in the town of Arnstadt in the German region.
The researcher, who is now the head of the musical archive in Leipzig, said they displayed several characteristics particular to the musical genius.
"Musically, the works also contain characteristics that can be observed in Bach's compositions from that era, but not in those of any other composer," he said.
They are considered to have been written down in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the historical figure.
At a unveiling of the pieces, 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 works.
- European Arts
- German Culture
- Classical compositions
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