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Previously unknown organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been unveiled and played in Germany for the premiere performance in over three centuries.

The country's Cultural Affairs Minister the cultural official described the finding of the two pieces a "important event for the musical community".

They originally drew interest of Peter Wollny in 1992 when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were undated and unsigned. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the authorship of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were presented at the Thomas Church in the German city, where Bach is interred and where he was employed as a music director for 27 years.

The two pieces were performed by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to play them for the premiere in 320 years.

He said the works were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a great asset for contemporary organ players, as they are also appropriate for reduced-scale organs".

Musical Importance

They are thought to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was employed as an music instructor in the municipality of the German town in Thuringia.

The researcher, who is now the head of the musical archive in the city, said they demonstrated several qualities particular to the composer.

"In terms of style, the compositions also include characteristics that can be found in Bach's works from this period, but not in those of different artists," he said.

They are thought to have been recorded in the early eighteenth century by a student of Bach, the musical student.

At a revealing of the works, the researcher said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had composed the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his works.