( CNN ) -- The music is n't new , but the discovery that a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart `` almost certainly '' composed it is a stunning revelation . A researcher in Austria says the works were probably transcribed by Mozart 's father , as young Mozart played . The two compositions -- a concerto in G and a prelude in G -- have long been in the files at the International Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg , Austria , as anonymous works and were even published in the book `` New Mozart Edition '' in 1982 . Now Ulrich Leisinger , director of the foundation 's research department , believes the works actually were composed by Mozart before he was old enough to write music , and that Mozart 's father , Leopold , transcribed them . The foundation said in a statement that Leisinger analyzed the handwriting and other `` stylistic criteria '' to determine the music was `` almost certainly unknown compositions by '' the young Mozart . The compositions were found in a book , compiled by Mozart 's father , that was used for practice and the musical education of both Mozart and his sister , according to the statement . Leisinger 's analyses `` support the claim that they were actually composed by the young Mozart , who was not yet versed in musical notation , and transcribed by his father as the boy played the works at the keyboard , '' the statement said . Jeffrey Kimpton , president of the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan , called the works `` a remarkable historical find . '' He said Leopold Mozart transcribed his son 's early works as a way of preserving them . `` When parents go to a piano recital of an early student , a young student , who 's playing for the first time , they get a video tape , they get a DVD , that 's a way of recording it , '' Kimpton said . `` I think what 's exciting is that Mozart 's father wanted to preserve this incredible genius . The young boy at this time did n't know how to write music , but he sure could play it . It 's like a family photo or video album . '' Finding such historical treasures is like detective work , Kimpton said . `` You 're kind of putting together a DNA picture , '' he said . `` This particular museum has hundreds of manuscripts . Over time as you learn more and more by various scholars working on this , you might turn the page and you may have looked at it a hundred times before but suddenly begin to see some things or understand some things that make some sense . '' Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756 and started composing when he was 5 years old . By the time of his death in 1791 , he had written more than 600 pieces of music .
Note : Two pieces likely composed by Mozart before he could publish them . Mozart 's father probably transcribed the music , researcher says . Compositions have long been known but as anonymous compositions . They were in fact compiled by Mozart 's father .