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Newly discovered organ works by the musical genius Bach have been presented and played in the European nation for the premiere performance in three hundred twenty years.

The nation's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer labeled the finding of the two pieces a "great moment for the musical community".

They first caught the attention of a musical scholar in 1992 when he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ pieces - the D minor Chaconne and G minor composition - were undated and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the following three decades working to authenticate the identity of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were presented at the historic Leipzig church in the German city, where Bach is buried and where he was employed as a church musician for 27 years.

The compositions 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 "an important addition for organists today, as they are also appropriate for smaller organs".

Historical Significance

They are considered to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was serving as an music instructor in the community of the Thuringian town in the German region.

The scholar, who is now the head of the musical archive in the municipality, said they displayed several characteristics particular to the musical genius.

"Stylistically, the pieces also contain aspects that can be identified in the composer's creations from that time, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are considered to have been transcribed in the early eighteenth century by one of Bach's pupils, the musical student.

At a presentation of the compositions, the researcher said he was "virtually certain that the composer had written the two pieces" and they have now been included into the recognized inventory of his compositions.