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Recently identified organ works by the renowned composer Bach have been presented and played in the central European country for the premiere performance in 320 years.

The country's Minister of Culture the government representative described the finding of the two compositions a "important event for the world of music".

They first caught the attention of Peter Wollny in the early nineties when he was documenting the composer's papers at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ pieces - the D minor Chaconne and G minor Chaconne - were undated and anonymous. The scholar spent the next 30 years working to confirm the origin of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were presented at the Thomas Church in the eastern German municipality, where the composer is buried and where he was employed as a cantor for 27 years.

The two pieces were performed by Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the initial performance in over three centuries.

He said the compositions were "of a very high quality" and would be "an important addition for contemporary organ players, as they are also suitable for reduced-scale organs".

Musical Importance

They are believed to have been composed during Bach's formative years, when he was serving as an organ teacher in the town of Arnstadt in the German region.

Mr Wollny, who is now the leader of the Bach Archive in the city, said they displayed several qualities particular to the musical genius.

"In terms of style, the works also contain elements that can be identified in the composer's creations from this period, but not in those of other musicians," he said.

They are considered to have been written down in the early eighteenth century by one of Bach's pupils, the historical figure.

At a revealing of the compositions, Mr Wollny said he was "almost completely confident that Bach had written the pair of works" and they have now been included into the recognized inventory of his musical output.