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

The nation's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer labeled the discovery of the pair of works a "important event for the musical community".

They initially attracted notice of Peter Wollny in the early nineties when he was organizing historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ pieces - the Chaconne in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were dating unknown and anonymous. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to verify the identity of the pieces.

Historic Performance

They were performed at the historic Leipzig church in Leipzig, where the composer is buried and where he was employed as a music director for 27 years.

The pair of works were performed by Dutch organist the musical performer, who said he was honored to be able to present them for the premiere in 320 years.

He said the compositions were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "a valuable resource for organists today, as they are also appropriate for more compact instruments".

Cultural Relevance

They are thought to have been created at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was working as an music instructor in the municipality of Arnstadt in central Germany.

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

"Musically, the compositions also include aspects that can be identified in Bach's compositions from this period, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are considered to have been transcribed in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the musical student.

At a presentation of the pieces, Mr Wollny said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had composed the pair of works" and they have now been included into the authoritative listing of his works.