Long-Forgotten Bach Works Performed for First-Ever Performance in Over Three Centuries
Previously unknown organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and played in the central European country for the premiere performance in three hundred twenty years.
The nation's Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer called the unearthing of the pair of works a "important event for the musical community".
They originally drew interest of Peter Wollny in the early nineties when he was organizing Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium.
The musical compositions - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were undated and without attribution. The researcher spent the next 30 years working to authenticate the authorship of the pieces.
Landmark Presentation
They were presented at the Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where Bach is interred and where he worked as a church musician for 27 years.
The two pieces were played by organist from the Netherlands Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to present them for the first time in three hundred twenty years.
He said the pieces were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "a great asset for contemporary organ players, as they are also well-suited for more compact instruments".
Cultural Relevance
They are believed to have been composed at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was employed as an organ teacher in the municipality of the Thuringian town in Thuringia.
The researcher, who is now the leader of the Bach Archive in the city, said they demonstrated several characteristics particular to the composer.
"Stylistically, the works also include characteristics that can be identified in the composer's creations from that era, but not in those of other musicians," he said.
They are believed to have been written down in 1705 by a student of Bach, Salomon Günther John.
At a presentation of the works, the researcher said he was "virtually certain that the composer had created the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his musical output.
Associated Topics:
- European Arts
- Germany
- Classical compositions
- Musical Arts
