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Newly discovered organ compositions by the renowned composer Bach have been unveiled and performed in the central European country for the initial occasion in over three centuries.

Germany's Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer called the discovery of the two compositions a "significant occasion for the musical community".

They initially attracted notice of Peter Wollny in the early nineties when he was documenting historical musical documents at the Royal Library of Belgium.

The organ works - the Chaconne composition in D minor and G minor composition - were dating unknown and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the subsequent thirty years working to authenticate the origin of the pieces.

Landmark Presentation

They were performed at the St Thomas Church in the German city, where the composer is laid to rest and where he served as a music director for 27 years.

The compositions were performed by organist from the Netherlands the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to perform them for the initial performance in three hundred twenty years.

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

Musical Importance

They are believed to have been written during Bach's formative years, when he was working as an organ instructor in the community of Arnstadt in the German region.

Mr Wollny, who is now the leader of the musical archive in the municipality, said they displayed several features particular to the musical genius.

"In terms of style, the pieces also feature characteristics 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 one of Bach's pupils, the historical figure.

At a presentation of the works, the researcher said he was "virtually certain that the composer had written the pair of works" and they have now been incorporated into the authoritative listing of his musical output.