Unveiling Hidden Treasures: Bach's Lost Works Debut After 320 Years

Tue Nov 18 2025 02:25:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Discover the thrilling performance of two previously unknown organ compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, recently unveiled in Leipzig, Germany, after three centuries.

In a landmark event for classical music, two undiscovered organ pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, titled Chaconne in D minor BWV 1178 and Chaconne in G minor BWV 1179, have been performed for the first time in over 320 years at St Thomas Church in Leipzig. The pieces were identified by researcher Peter Wollny and are believed to date from Bach's early career, showcasing distinct characteristics of the composer. Dutch organist Ton Koopman expressed excitement for performing these high-quality compositions, which are now officially part of Bach's works.

Previously unknown organ works by Johann Sebastian Bach have been presented and performed in Germany for the first time in 320 years.

Germany's Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer called the discovery of the two pieces a great moment for the world of music.

They first caught the attention of Peter Wollny, a researcher of the German composer and musician, in 1992 while he was cataloguing Bach manuscripts at the Royal Library of Belgium in Brussels.

The organ works - the Chaconne in D minor BWV 1178 and Chaconne in G minor BWV 1179 - were undated and unsigned. Mr Wollny spent the next 30 years working to confirm the identity of the pieces.

They were performed at the St Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach is buried and where he worked as a cantor for 27 years.

The two pieces were played by Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who stated he was proud to be able to perform them for the first time in 320 years. He described the pieces as of a very high quality and a great asset for organists today, as they are also suitable for smaller organs.

These compositions are believed to have been created early in Bach's career when he was working as an organ teacher in Arnstadt, Thuringia.

Mr Wollny, the director of the Bach Archive in Leipzig, noted that the pieces display several characteristics unique to the composer, asserting that they contain stylistic features from Bach's works from this period, not found in those of other composers.

It is believed they were written down in 1705 by one of Bach's pupils, Salomon Günther John.

At a presentation of the works, Mr Wollny expressed confidence in their authenticity, declaring he was 99.99% sure that Bach had written the two pieces, which have now been added to the official catalogue of his works.