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Newly discovered organ compositions by the musical genius Bach have been unveiled and played in Germany for the first time in 320 years.

Germany's Minister of Culture Wolfram Weimer called the unearthing of the pair of works a "significant occasion for the global music scene".

They originally drew interest of a musical scholar in the early nineties when he was documenting Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were undated and without attribution. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to confirm the identity of the pieces.

Historic Performance

They were played at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach is interred and where he worked as a music director for twenty-seven 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 premiere in 320 years.

He said the works were "remarkably sophisticated" and would be "a great asset for organists today, as they are also appropriate for smaller organs".

Musical Importance

They are thought to have been created during Bach's formative years, when he was working as an organ instructor in the community of the German town in central Germany.

The researcher, who is now the director of the Bach research center in the municipality, said they displayed several features distinctive to the musical genius.

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

They are believed to have been transcribed in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, the historical figure.

At a revealing of the pieces, the researcher said he was "virtually certain that Bach had written the two compositions" and they have now been added into the recognized inventory of his musical output.