Previously Unknown Bach Organ Works Performed After 320 Years

Two previously unknown organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach were performed in Germany for the first time in 320 years. The pieces, the ‘Chaconne in D minor BWV 1178’ and ‘Chaconne in G minor BWV 1179’, were discovered in 1992 by Peter Wollny, a researcher of Bach’s music, while cataloging Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium. Though undated and unsigned, the works have now been confirmed as part of Bach’s repertoire after decades of study. The performance took place at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach worked as a cantor for 27 years and is buried. The Dutch organist Ton Koopman performed these works, praising their quality and suitability for smaller organs. The pieces are believed to have been composed during Bach’s early career, when he was working as an organ teacher in Arnstadt. The discovery adds a new dimension to Bach’s legacy and is considered a significant contribution to the world of classical music.