Missing Bach Compositions Played for First Time in Over Three Centuries
Previously unknown musical pieces by the renowned composer Bach have been unveiled and executed in the European nation for the initial occasion in three hundred twenty years.
The country's Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer called the finding of the two compositions a "important event for the global music scene".
They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was documenting Bach manuscripts at the Belgian royal collection.
The musical compositions - the Chaconne composition in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were dating unknown and without attribution. The researcher spent the next 30 years working to confirm the origin of the pieces.
Landmark Presentation
They were played at the historic Leipzig church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is laid to rest and where he was employed as a cantor for 27 years.
The two pieces were performed by Dutch musician Ton Koopman, who said he was privileged to be able to present them for the premiere in over three centuries.
He said the pieces were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "an important addition for contemporary organ players, as they are also appropriate for reduced-scale organs".
Musical Importance
They are considered to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was employed as an organ instructor in the community of Arnstadt in Thuringia.
Mr Wollny, who is now the director of the Bach research center in Leipzig, said they exhibited several qualities unique to the musical genius.
"Musically, the compositions also contain elements that can be identified in Bach's compositions from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.
They are considered to have been written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, Salomon Günther John.
At a unveiling of the works, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that the composer had composed the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the recognized inventory of his compositions.
- Europe
- German Heritage
- Orchestral works
- Musical Arts