The last time the two pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach were performed was more than 300 years ago — if ever. 

There's still some debate about whether the two pieces were ever publicly performed, according to a story on the Good News Network website.

Written for the organ, the two pieces are believed to have been written early in the composer's career. (At the time, Bach was working as an organ tutor in Arnstadt, Thuringia, according to the story.)

Unsigned and undated, the two works were found by a Bach researcher working at the Royal Library in Brussels. The pieces — "Chaconne in D minor" and "Chaconne in G minor" — the researcher had a hunch that they had been composed by Bach.

It took 30 years for Peter Wollny's suspicions to be confirmed, according to the website.

“Stylistically, the works also contain features that can be found in Bach’s works from this period, but not in those of any other composer,” Wollny told the BBC, adding he was “99.99% sure that Bach had written the two pieces.”

The works were recently played for the first time in 320 years by Dutch organist Ton Koopman at St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, where Bach worked for 27 years as a cantor. 

Bach is widely regarded as one of the most important composers of all time, with three of his works included on the Golden Record, launched by NASA aboard the spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977. In addition to 90 minutes of music, including Bach's works, the record contains 115 analog-encoded photographs, greetings in 55 languages and a compilation of sounds from Earth.

Like Bach, the Sandpoint Lions Club's Toys for Tots is something of legend, working hard each year to ensure all children in the Lake Pend Oreille School District have a merry Christmas.

To date, the campaign has raised $5,800 toward its $75,000 goal to provide Christmas presents to those in need in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

If you know someone who needs help, make sure they sign up so Christmas is a happy holiday for everyone in the community. The deadline this year is Dec. 12 to sign up and Dec. 13 to pick up toys.

Each year, the Lions team up with local businesses and residents through Toys for Tots to ensure everyone has a merry Christmas.

Funds raised go toward purchasing new toys for area children — or gift cards for older youth — who live in the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

Every Christmas, the Lions help almost 1,000 area children, from Sandpoint to Clark Fork and all points in between.

This year’s goal is $75,000 to ensure all area youth receive a present. Donations may be mailed to the Sandpoint Lions Club, P.O. Box 414, Sandpoint, ID 83864, or dropped into any coin jar around town. Donations should include a note that it is for Toys for Tots and, if you wish to remain anonymous, please mention that in your note.

Donations made by check are preferred. Be sure to include a note with your check indicating that it is a Toys for Tots donation. If you wish to make an anonymous donation, please include a note.

If the donation is being made in someone’s name, be sure to also include a note.

Each day during the drive, donors’ names will be published along with the amount of their donations. A running total will be included to help the community know where the Toys for Tots campaign stands.

If you can, please consider donating. Every penny, every dollar adds up, and if we all pitch in, we can make this, once again, a successful Toys for Tots campaign. Additional donations help the Lions buy ahead and make the most of the community’s generous support.

In Sandpoint, toys and donations can be dropped off at the Bonner County Daily Bee, Mr. Sub, Columbia Bank, Connie’s Cafe, Serv-A-Burger, Mountain West Bank, Pivo Peaks Alehouse, Sandpoint Family Medicine and Urgent Care, and the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

In Sagle, toys and donations can be dropped off at Buckin’ Beans and Encoder Products (in the front lobby, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

In Ponderay, toys and donations can be dropped off at Alpenglow Salon, Walmart, North 40, Columbia Bank, Arnie’s, Better Together Animal Shelter, Community Resource EnVision Center, Litehouse, Elite Tire, Vinnie Todd’s Barbershop, Hoot Owl, Papa Murphy’s and Mountain West Bank.

Information: Sandpoint Lions Club, 208-263-4118, [email protected] or bit.ly/SandpointLions