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Newly discovered musical pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach have been presented and played in Germany for the initial occasion in over three centuries.

The nation's Minister of Culture the government representative called the unearthing of the two compositions a "significant occasion for the global music scene".

They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was organizing historical musical documents at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were undated and unsigned. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to confirm the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were played at the historic Leipzig church in Leipzig, where the composer is laid to rest and where he worked as a cantor for twenty-seven years.

The compositions were executed by organist from the Netherlands the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the first time in over three centuries.

He said the works were "of a very high quality" and would be "a great asset for contemporary organ players, as they are also well-suited for reduced-scale organs".

Cultural Relevance

They are considered to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was employed as an organ teacher in the municipality of Arnstadt in the German region.

The scholar, who is now the leader of the Bach research center in the municipality, said they displayed several features unique to the composer.

"In terms of style, the pieces also include characteristics that can be found in Bach's compositions from that time, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are thought to have been transcribed in 1705 by Bach's apprentice, the historical figure.

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