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Previously unknown organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been revealed and performed in the central European country for the first time in 320 years.

The nation's Culture Minister the cultural official labeled the discovery of the pair of works a "significant occasion for the musical community".

They originally drew interest of a Bach researcher in the early nineties when he was documenting the composer's papers at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ pieces - the D minor Chaconne and Chaconne in G minor - were undated and without attribution. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were played at the Thomas Church in the German city, where Bach is laid to rest and where he worked as a cantor for 27 years.

The two pieces were played by organist from the Netherlands the renowned organist, who said he was honored to be able to present them for the first time in over three centuries.

He said the pieces were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a valuable resource for modern musicians, as they are also well-suited for reduced-scale organs".

Musical Importance

They are thought to have been created early in Bach's career, when he was serving as an organ teacher in the community of the Thuringian town in Thuringia.

The researcher, who is now the head of the musical archive in the city, said they exhibited several features particular to the artist.

"In terms of style, the compositions also feature aspects that can be identified in the composer's creations from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

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

At a revealing of the works, the expert said he was "virtually certain that Bach had written the pair of works" and they have now been incorporated into the official catalogue of his musical output.