Lost Bach Compositions Presented for First-Ever Performance in Three Centuries
Newly discovered musical pieces by the musical genius Bach have been revealed and played in the central European country for the premiere performance in three hundred twenty years.
The country's Cultural Affairs Minister the government representative labeled the discovery of the two compositions a "important event for the world of music".
They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in the early nineties when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium.
The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were undated and without attribution. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to authenticate the identity of the pieces.
Memorable Concert
They were played at the historic Leipzig church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is laid to rest and where he served as a church musician for twenty-seven years.
The compositions were executed by Dutch organist the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to play them for the initial performance in 320 years.
He said the compositions were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "an important addition for contemporary organ players, as they are also suitable for smaller organs".
Musical Importance
They are thought to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was working as an organ instructor in the community of the German town in Thuringia.
The researcher, who is now the leader of the Bach research center in Leipzig, said they displayed several qualities particular to the musical genius.
"Musically, the compositions also include characteristics that can be identified in Bach's compositions from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.
They are thought to have been recorded in 1705 by a student of Bach, the musical student.
At a unveiling of the compositions, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that the composer had created the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his musical output.
- Europe
- German Heritage
- Classical compositions
- Musical Arts