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Recently identified organ compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach have been unveiled and executed in Germany for the initial occasion in 320 years.

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

They first caught the attention of Peter Wollny in 1992 when he was organizing the composer's papers at the Belgian royal collection.

The organ pieces - the Chaconne in D minor and Chaconne in G minor - were dating unknown and anonymous. The scholar spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the identity of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were performed at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where the composer is laid to rest and where he served as a music director for twenty-seven years.

The two pieces were played by organist from the Netherlands the musical performer, who said he was privileged to be able to play them for the premiere in three hundred twenty years.

He said the compositions were "of a very high quality" and would be "a valuable resource for modern musicians, as they are also well-suited for smaller organs".

Musical Importance

They are thought to have been written early in Bach's career, when he was working as an music instructor in the community of Arnstadt in Thuringia.

Mr Wollny, who is now the director of the musical archive in the municipality, said they demonstrated several features unique to the artist.

"In terms of style, the works also contain elements that can be identified in Bach's works from this period, but not in those of different artists," he said.

They are thought to have been written down in the early eighteenth century by Bach's apprentice, the historical figure.

At a presentation of the compositions, the expert said he was "99.99% sure that the composer had created the two compositions" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his works.