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Previously unknown organ compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and played in the central European country for the first time in three hundred twenty years.

The country's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer labeled the unearthing of the two compositions a "important event for the world of music".

They initially attracted notice of a Bach researcher in the early nineties when he was organizing historical musical documents at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ works - the D minor Chaconne and G minor Chaconne - were undated and without attribution. The researcher spent the next 30 years working to confirm the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were performed at the historic Leipzig church in the German city, where the composer is laid to rest and where he served as a cantor for over two decades.

The two pieces were executed by Dutch organist the renowned organist, who said he was privileged to be able to play them for the first time in over three centuries.

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

Cultural Relevance

They are believed to have been written during Bach's formative years, when he was serving as an organ instructor in the community of the Thuringian town in central Germany.

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

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

They are thought to have been written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, the musical student.

At a revealing of the works, the expert said he was "almost completely confident that Bach had created the two pieces" and they have now been incorporated into the recognized inventory of his works.