Two Organ Works Newly Attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach

Written by Chantal Gapato  |  November 20, 2025

Two organ pieces have been newly attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach, marking one of the most significant Bach findings in recent years. The works, identified as chaconnes in D minor and G minor, were officially added to the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (BWV) on Monday, November 17.

The announcement was made at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, the historic site where Bach served as cantor and where he is buried. The works were performed publicly for the first time in around 320 years.

Scholars believe the pieces were copied around 1705, when Bach was about 18 years old and working in Arnstadt. The manuscripts were first noticed over 30 years ago in the Royal Library of Belgium, but their connection to Bach remained unconfirmed. The decisive breakthrough came when experts identified the handwriting as that of Salomon Guenther John, one of Bach’s pupils, using newly discovered writing samples from the same period.

Peter Wollny, director of the Bach Archive in Leipzig, called the confirmation the final piece needed to understand the manuscripts’ origin. German cultural officials described the event as a major moment for classical music scholarship.

Dutch organist Ton Koopman, who performed the pieces at the unveiling, praised their craftsmanship and noted that they show impressive musical maturity from Bach’s early years. He expects the chaconnes to enter the international organ repertoire quickly.

The Bach Archive, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, has been responsible for several important rediscoveries of Bach manuscripts. This new attribution adds valuable insight into Bach’s early development and enriches the repertoire available to performers and researchers.