A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Reinken, Johann Adam
REINKEN, Johann Adam, eminent German organist, born at Deventer, in Holland, April 27, 1623, a pupil of Swelinck at Amsterdam, became in 1654 organist of the church of St. Catherine at Hamburg, and retained the post till his death, Nov. 24, 1722, at the age of 99. He was a person of some consideration at Hamburg, both on account of his fine playing, and of his beneficial influence on music in general, but his vanity and jealousy of his brother artists are severely commented on by his contemporaries. So great and so widespread was his reputation that Sebastian Bach frequently walked to Hamburg from Lüneburg (1700 to 1703), and Cöthen (1720), to hear him play. Reinken may be considered the best representative of the NorthGerman school of organists of the 17th century, whose strong points were, not the classic placidity of the South-German school, but great dexterity of foot and finger, and ingenious combinations of the stops. His compositions are loaded with passages for display, and are defective in form, both in individual melodies and general construction. His works are very scarce; 'Hortus Musicus,' for 2 violins, viola [App. p.770 "da gamba"] and bass (Hamburg 1704) is the only one printed; and even in MS. only five pieces are known—2 on Chorales, 1 Toccata, and 2 Variations (for Clavier).[1] Of the first of these,—one on the chorale 'An Wasserflüssen Babylons'—is specially interesting, because it was by an extempore performance on that chorale at Hamburg in 1722 that Bach extorted from the venerable Reinken the words, 'I thought that this art was dead, but I see that it still lives in you.' [App. p.770 "add that the 'Hortus Musicus' has lately been republished as no. XIII of the publications of the Maatschappij tot bevordering der Toonkunst (Amsterdam, 1887). No. XIV of the same publication consists of Reinken's 'Partite Diverse' (variations)."
[ A. M. ]
- ↑ Spitta's Bach, i. 195, 198.