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Newly discovered musical pieces by the renowned composer Bach have been presented and played in Germany for the premiere performance in over three centuries.

The country's Cultural Affairs Minister Wolfram Weimer called the discovery of the two compositions a "important event for the global music scene".

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

The organ pieces - the D minor Chaconne and G minor composition - were without dates and without attribution. The researcher spent the subsequent thirty years working to verify the authorship of the pieces.

Memorable Concert

They were presented at the Thomas Church in the German city, where Bach is buried and where he worked as a cantor for twenty-seven years.

The pair of works were played by Dutch organist the musical performer, who said he was proud to be able to play them for the premiere in over three centuries.

He said the compositions were "exceptionally well-crafted" and would be "an important addition for organists today, as they are also well-suited for more compact instruments".

Musical Importance

They are believed to have been composed at the beginning of Bach's professional life, when he was serving as an organ instructor in the town of Arnstadt in central Germany.

The researcher, who is now the leader of the Bach research center in the city, said they displayed several characteristics particular to the artist.

"Stylistically, the works also include characteristics that can be found in Bach's compositions from this period, but not in those of any other composer," he said.

They are believed to have been written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, Salomon Günther John.

At a presentation of the compositions, Mr Wollny said he was "99.99% sure that the composer had written the pair of works" and they have now been incorporated into the official catalogue of his works.