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Newly discovered organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been revealed and played in the European nation for the initial occasion in over three centuries.

The country's Culture Minister the cultural official called the discovery of the two pieces a "significant occasion for the world of music".

They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in the early nineties when he was organizing historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ pieces - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor Chaconne - were dating unknown and unsigned. The researcher spent the next 30 years working to verify the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were played at the historic Leipzig church in the eastern German municipality, where Bach is buried and where he served as a music director for 27 years.

The compositions were played by organist from the Netherlands Ton Koopman, who said he was honored to be able to perform them for the first time in 320 years.

He said the works were "of a very high quality" and would be "a valuable resource for contemporary organ players, as they are also well-suited for smaller 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 the Thuringian town in central Germany.

Mr Wollny, who is now the leader of the musical archive in the municipality, said they displayed several features particular to the musical genius.

"Musically, the pieces also include characteristics that can be observed in the composer's creations from that era, but not in those of different artists," he said.

They are considered to have been recorded in the early eighteenth century by Bach's apprentice, the musical student.

At a revealing of the pieces, the expert said he was "virtually certain that the composer had created the two compositions" and they have now been included into the authoritative listing of his compositions.