Bach Rediscovered: The Lost Ciaconas
More than 300 years after they were written, two newly attributed works have been added to the catalog of Johann Sebastian Bach.
Discovered in November 2025, these pieces offer a rare glimpse into the early creative life of one of history’s greatest composers. In this video, scholar Dr. Ellen Exner and organist Paolo Bordignon explore the young Bach, examining how these newly uncovered works deepen our understanding of his development, influences, and the musical world of the Baroque era. Through performance and conversation, they reveal what these discoveries can teach us—not only about Bach, but about the preservation and rediscovery of history itself.
Featuring:
Paolo Bordignon, Organ
Dr. Ellen Exner, Interview
Production Credits:
Andrew Alden – Director and Editor
Winston Cook-Wilson – Producer
Benjamin Shapiro – Producer
Allison Kraus – Editor
Edwin Huet – Audio Engineer
Joshua Benghiat – Lighting Designer
Sarissa Michaud – Stage Manager
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Paolo Bordignon
Paolo Bordignon is harpsichordist of the New York Philharmonic and organist and choirmaster of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Park Avenue. Recent appearances include concertos with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the American Symphony Orchestra, and performances with Camerata Pacifica, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Mark Morris Dance Company, and The Knights. He has also recently performed with the MET Orchestra Musicians, Boston Symphony Chamber Players, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, All-Star Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, and ECCO. Born in Toronto of Italian heritage, Bordignon attended St. Michael’s Cathedral Choir School before attending the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and he earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School.