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Recently identified organ compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach have been presented and performed in Germany for the first time in three hundred twenty years.

Germany's Cultural Affairs Minister the cultural official described the unearthing of the two compositions a "important event for the musical community".

They initially attracted notice of a Bach researcher in 1992 when he was documenting historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor and G minor composition - were dating unknown and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the following three decades working to authenticate the origin of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were performed at the St Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where Bach is laid to rest and where he was employed as a music director for 27 years.

The pair of works were played by organist from the Netherlands the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

He said the pieces were "of a very high quality" and would be "a valuable resource for organists today, as they are also well-suited for smaller organs".

Historical Significance

They are considered to have been written early in Bach's career, when he was working as an organ instructor in the town of the Thuringian town in the German region.

Mr Wollny, who is now the head of the Bach research center in the city, said they exhibited several qualities unique to the composer.

"Stylistically, the compositions also feature characteristics that can be identified in Bach's compositions from that time, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

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

At a presentation of the compositions, the expert said he was "almost completely confident that the composer had composed the two compositions" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his compositions.