Wilhelm Rinkens

Wilhelm Rinkens (1929)

Wilhelm Rinkens (born June 15, 1879 in Eschweiler-Röhe , † June 22, 1933 in Eisenach ) was a German composer and music director .

Life and professional career

Wilhelm Rinkens was the oldest child of the then village school teacher Josef Rinkens and his wife Anna Maria (née Küster). At the age of two he moved with his parents to Cologne-Ehrenfeld, where eleven siblings were born over the years, of which only five survived. At the age of six he received piano lessons from Ludwig Pütz, who later became the cathedral organist of Aachen, whom he represented at church services at the age of eleven. My first compositions were created at the age of 13. The composer and conductor Franz Wüllner became aware of the musical talent of the young Rinkens through a choral composition with piano accompaniment and got him a job at the Cologne Conservatory . He first studied in Aachen and Cologne , the organ playing . From 1893 he received piano lessons from Max von Pauer and Max van de Sandt, composition from Franz Wüllner, Otto Klauwell and Franz Bölsche , organ lessons and counterpoint theory from Friedrich Wilhelm Franke and musicology from Otto Neitzel .

On October 1, 1900, Rinkens married Barbara, nee Küpper, in Cologne. From this marriage two daughters (Luise and Gerda) emerged before his wife died in 1910. A year later he married Ilse, née Ottho, with whom he had two other children (Ilse and Wilhelm).

Although largely self-taught as a conductor, in 1905 he was appointed music director of Recklinghausen , and in 1906 he moved to Eisenach as head of the music association, seminar teacher, court cantor and organist. Since then Rinkens has been the director of various Thuringian male choirs. In 1912/13 he published his first works with opus numbers. From 1916 to 1918 he was a soldier of the 4th Magdeburg Regiment, and his composing activities were in full bloom. His song collection Opus 9 to 19 and his only completed symphony Opus 7 were published. 200,000 copies of his cannon songs were sent to the front, and with his concerts (total proceeds of 40,000 Reichsmarks) he supported those who remained behind the war, for which he received the War Merit Cross.

From 1919, again in Eisenach, Rinkens became productive in the field of chamber music . With the Trio Opus 21 he won first and second prizes in the composers' competition of the Mozarteum Salzburg in 1921 . In 1922 he received the title of professor from the Thuringian government and took up a chair in composition and music theory at the Erfurt Conservatory.

From 1923 he devoted himself particularly to choral composition. He took over the management of the Erfurt men's choir and later other large choirs, with which he successfully performed many of his own choral compositions on various large occasions (Thuringian State Choir Festival, German National Singing Festival in Hanover (1924), Vienna (1928) and Frankfurt (1932), Nuremberg Singing Week) performed. In 1926 he became Thuringian regional music master and was elected federal choir master by the Thuringian Singing Association.

Wilhelm Rinkens died on June 22, 1933, a few days after he had turned 54 in Eisenach, and found his final resting place in the main cemetery there . His honor grave has been preserved.

Posthumous honors and bequests

Wilhelm Rinkens' grave of honor in the main cemetery in Eisenach

Rinkens was known far beyond the borders of Thuringia, and that is why he was laid out in public after his death; Schools and shops were closed on the day of his funeral. More than 20,000 mourners are said to have lined up his last aisle. The funeral procession was several kilometers long. A memorial was erected on his grave in Eisenach.

In 1950 the Rinkensplatz in his place of birth Röhe was named after him, and in Eisenach the Wilhelm-Rinkens-Straße bears his name.

In 1980, his grandson Eckhard Mascher founded the Wilhelm Rinkens Circle of Friends , whose task it was to ensure that Rinkens and his work should be brought back from the past. He endeavored to organize exhibitions, publications, research, arranging concerts with works by the composer, recording songs, choirs and chamber music works and distributing them to members of the Freundeskreis, regular notifications about special events in connection with Rinkens, collecting and archiving his works, etc. After his death, the work of the Freundeskreis also ended.

Until 2015, a large part of the estate was in the hands of one of his great-grandchildren. His personal and artistic estate is now in the Thuringian State Music Archive at the Liszt School of Music Weimar .

His birthplace opposite the Helene-Nickel-Stift monastery in Röhe, which was destroyed in the Second World War , was not rebuilt. A memorial plaque formerly attached there (dedication by the MGV Sängerbund Köln Mühlheim) was given to the Eschweiler history association by a great-grandson on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the exhibition “Röhe, Gestern und heute” in 2014. This board has been hanging on Rinkensplatz in Röhe since September 2015.

Works

Rinkens composed a total of 83 works with opus numbers and 365 other works. Many of his compositions are in his estate, some in printed form from various publishers of the time, others in manuscript form. His opera Eugenia was ten years after his death premiered . Typical of his music is the pronounced sense of melody and harmonic structures.

Catalog of works by Wilhelm Rinkens (Opus 1–83)

Opus 1 3 folk songs for female choir (Bauermann-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Müller's farewell: "Up there on that mountain" (from Des Knaben Wunderhorn ) 1897
II) Slumber song: "Sleep darling, fall asleep" (Clara Fritsche) 1904
III) encouragement to joy; “Who wanted to plague with grilling” (Hölty) 1904

Opus 2 Three unaccompanied female choirs (three-part) (Heinrichshofen`s Verlag Magdeburg)

I) Red rose: "I want to break the red rose" ( Paul Melissus Schede 1539–1602)
II) Bride song: "One must praise blissfully" (Petrus Denaisius 1560–1610)
III) Veronica Chamaedrys (Männertreu): "It is a little herb, means Männertreu" ( Johannes Trojan )

Opus 3 movement for male choir (CF Leede-Verlag Leipzig)

Thuringia: "Thuringia, you evergreen garden" ( Leonhard Schrickel ) 1924

Opus 4 movement for male choir, soloists, orchestra or piano (Karl-Hochstein-Verlag Heidelberg)

German prayer: "Lord God, you are not dead" (Wilhelm Rinkens) 1918

Opus 5 15 Cantus Firmus Preludes, Vol. II 1928 ( Friedrich Wilhelm Franke / Sandmann, Schott-Verlag)

Whatever my God wants, happen all the time
How beautiful the morning star shines
Oh god, you godly god
Now thank everyone and bring honor
praise the Lord
Jesus my joy
Keep going
Adorn yourself, oh my soul
One thing is necessary
Awake, the voice is calling us
When my hour is available
Should it seem at once
Now my soul praise the Lord
I hoped in you
I have given my thing to God

Opus 6 Six melodramas

Knight Olaf ( Heinrich Heine )
Wedding song ( Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ) 1912
To art (H. v. Eckhel) 1923
God and the Bajadere (W. v. Goethe) 1922
The Avenger ( Richard Dehmel )
The tailor from Iserlohn ( Rudolf Presber ) 1915

Opus 7 First Symphony in D minor (1919)

Allegro moderato e marcato
Allegro moderato - presto
Adagio e molto espressivo
Allegro con brio - quasi presto

Opus 8 Three chants for female choir with piano accompaniment (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Old saying: "Those who love music"
II) Love fire: "On the fire that crowds in lovers" ( Ludwig Uhland )
III) Elven song: "At midnight, when people first sleep" (W. V. Goethe)

Opus 9 Six songs for high voice and piano (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Voice of longing: "I'll whisper to you in bed" ( Carl Hermann Busse )
II) The path of life: "I approached you through life" ( Börries Freiherr von Münchhausen )
III) Wild love: "You are still playing the childish games" (Carl Hermann Busse)
IV) Consolation: "Every pain needs maturity" (Gustav Adolf Gerbrecht)
V) Maria Lullaby: "Maria is sitting in the flower garden" (Albert Geiger)
VI) Peace: "Give me some of your silent kisses" (Albert Sergel)

Opus 10 Six songs for medium voice and piano (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Banger evening: "Night leans on the streets" ( Otto Julius Bierbaum )
II) Devotional: “I bow and make the sign of the cross” (Kurt Böhmer) 1920
III) Holy Night: "We have in the silent night" (Max Bewer)
IV) Promise: "Oh, don't cry" (Richard Dehmel)
V) The new way: "My God is holy" (Leo Heller) 1917
VI) Dance music: "Music echoes from the nearby town" ( Leo Heller ) 1916

Opus 11 melodrama "Die Heinzelmännchen in Cologne" (based on a poem by August Kopisch ) 1911 CFW Siegel-Verlag Leipzig

Opus 12 Six songs for medium and high voice and piano based on poems by Leo Heller (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Little sister: "Little sister, I'm scared"
II) Summer night: “Don't cry” 1916
III) Abandoned girl: "When they make music over there"
IV) Sweet calm: "Do you want to give me a tender bed"
V) Early spring: "Do you notice, my child" 1916
VI) The slipper: "On the tip of the cutest foot"

Opus 13 Six songs for medium voice and piano based on poems by Leo Heller (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Death: "And his hands become tender and soft" 1917
II) Song of the streets: "We serve happiness"
III) The woman: "Are your hands"
IV) Spring: "It goes over all roads"
V) Storm surge: "The waves are rolling"
VI) Dowry: "What do you bring me" 1916

Opus 14 Six songs for high voice and piano (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Beautiful night: “Beautiful night, stars walk” (Karl Busse) 1920
II) Too late: “You came to me” (Karl Bienestein) 1920
III) Longing for death: "I'm so tired" (Johanna Spancken) 1903
IV) Blessed Night: "We slept in the arms of love" ( Otto Erich Hartleben ) 1919
V) On wings: "Heart, you can bear it" ( Gustav Falke )
VI) The Backfisch: "Giggling and whispering" ( Alice Berend )

Opus 15 Six songs for medium voice and piano (Fr. Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) In a big city: "It drifts past me" ( Detlev von Liliencron )
II) Lonely: "I am alone" 1909
III) Evening song: "The night has fallen" (Otto Julius Bierbaum) 1905
IV) The bell of happiness: "I hear many bells ringing" ( Anna Ritter ) 1910
V) Fromm: "The moon shines on my bed" (Gustav Falke)
VI) The farrier: "Black-brown blacksmith" ( Carl Spitteler ) 1918

Opus 16 Four poems by Walter Flex for medium voice and piano (Fr.Kistner-Verlag Leipzig)

I) Morning song in May: “Through the morning red discs” 1917
II) Soldier and mother: "What are you doing, child"
III) Mother Heart: "Mother Heart, you pure bell" 1919
IV) “The meadow foams with blossoms” 1919

Opus 17 Six songs for piano and voice (Heinrichshofen`s-Verlag Magdeburg)

I) The street: "We all walk the street" ( Emanuel von Bodman )
II) Love song: "You, seven times I love you" ( Ludwig Finckh ) 1909
III) Nightingale: "Nightingale, I hear you singing" (Alma Schadow) 1918
IV) "What do the flowers cry without ceasing" (Wilhelm Gysselo) 1918
V) Frugality: "I walk my street quietly and peacefully" 1919
VI) Winter consecration: "In these winter days" 1919

Opus 18 Two sacred songs for piano (organ) and voice (Heinrichshofen`s-Verlag Magdeburg)

I) Wedding song: "Still as the night" 1913
II) Fritz Reuther's grave inscription: “The beginning, the end, oh Lord are yours” 1918

Opus 19 Three songs for piano and voice (Wolf and Ruthe-Verlag Magdeburg)

I) To my child: "You sleep and I bow gently" (Gustav Falke) 1916
II) Lullaby: "Everything sleeps in sweet peace" ( Hoffmann von Fallersleben ) 1903
III) Siblings: "A brother and a sister" ( Paul Heyse ) 1918

Opus 20 Sonata in C minor for violin and piano (Simrock-Verlag Berlin) 1914

I) Broad and massive, but not too slow
II) Slowly, with an intimate expression
III) Moderate, lively, but not fast

Opus 21 1st Trio in D minor for violin, cello and piano

I) Striding powerfully, with characteristic emphasis
II) From a distant world (Andante tranquillo)
III) Allegro marcato (sharp rhythmic dance (scherzo) - calm dance (trio))
IV) Vivace giocoso (storming defiantly with lively movement)

Opus 22 Sonata in D minor for cello and piano (Simrock-Verlag Berlin) 1923

I) Powerful, joyfully moved
II) Slowly with expression
III) With humor and grace
IV) Passionately moved with characteristic emphasis

Opus 23 Quintet in A major for two violins, viola, cello and piano (Simrock-Verlag Berlin) 1917

I) Busy, but not too fast
II) Slow and expressive (in ballad form)
III) Mischievous, slightly lively
IV) With humor and grace

Opus 24 Suite in D major for violin and piano (Simrock-Verlag Berlin) 1914

I) Prelude (energetic)
II) minuet
III) Gavotte
IV) Gigue

Opus 25 melodrama: "May is about" (Karl Vanselow) 1911

Opus 26 Suite in ancient keys for cello and piano (Simrock-Verlag Berlin) 1922

I) Toccata (Doric) Allegro con bravura
II) Reigen (Phrygian) Allegretto con grazia
III) Evening song (Lydian) Andante con espressione
IV) Capriccio (Mixolydian) Allegro con fuoco

Opus 27 Six simple wise men for male choir (Heinrichshofen`s-Verlag Magdeburg)

I) Sunset: "Dreaming to the sun parting" ( Martin Greif )
II) Love, a spring: "Spring that does not dry" (Martin Greif)
III) Only a quarter of an hour: "Oh, only a quarter of an hour" (L. v. Höhrmann)
IV) On distant watch: "Home, dear home" (Wilhelm Rinkens)
V) The Werkeluhr: "In the old retreat" (Martin Greif)
VI) Cheerful serenade from “Tobias Knopp”: “The evening is so mild and beautiful” ( Wilhelm Busch

Opus 28 Sonata in E major for viola and piano 1925

I) Fantastically moved - calmly thoughtful
II) elegiac singing
III) With humor and grace
IV) Energetic, sharply rhythmic

Opus 29 Septet for oboe, horn, bassoon, violin, viola, cello and piano 1923

I) With brilliance and boldness
II) Lament (theme with 8 variations "Wolgalied")
III) Energetic (rhythmically animated - vocal with a festive finish)

Opus 30 Composition for mixed choir, soprano solo and small orchestra

The dance: "Let me sing about the dance" 1911

Opus 31 Duets for baritone, soprano and piano (Simrock - Verlag Berlin) 1923

"Letters from two lovers" (Will Vesper)

Opus 32 German suite for piano (Simrock - Verlag Berlin) 1923

I) Labor Day
II) evening bells
III) Pan on the wandering 1912

Opus 33 Four songs for high voice and piano (CA Klemm - Verlag Leipzig) 1924

I) Night of love: "Oh wait, sweet lover" (Martin Greif)
II) The loyal couple: "Two loved ones were so sad" (Martin Greif)
III) Hussar march: "Red hussars are blasting through the streets at a gallop" (Martin Greif)
IV) On the train: "We fly on the rails" (Martin Greif)

Opus 34 House Music: Suite for String Quartet (manuscript 1923) From the good old days

I) The Allegro of the four good citizens
II) Calm, comfortable dance
III) Harmlessly chatting society - sounds of mourning from afar - death
IV) The aria of the prima donna
V) Departure - drive home - idyllic forest - final

Opus 35 Three Madrigals for 3-part male choir (Fr. Kistner & CFW Siegel - Verlag Leipzig) 1928

I) Winter distress: "Since the sun had to tilt its shine from the cold" (Heinrich von Veldecke)
II) Spring: "Ahi, now comes the blissful time" ( Dietmar von Aist )
III) Man's courage: "Well befits the hero" ( Spervogel )

Opus 36 Three male choirs (Simrock - Verlag Berlin) 1924

I) Song of Life: "Life is great" ( Otto Erich Hartleben )
II) Dream song: "Quiet and quiet, like a dream" ( Cäsar Flaischlen )
III) Drinking song: "Pour, friend, into the cup" ( Viktor Meyer-Eckhardt )

Opus 37 2nd Trio in C major for violin, cello and piano 1925

I) Moderato marcato e vigere
II) Andante teneramente
III) Scherzo vubile e risentito
IV) Intradi, Rondino a capriccio - Finale

Opus 38 Trio for flute, viola and cello 1924

I) Allegro moderato
II) Theme with variations
III) Funny, bold, cocky

Opus 39 Three ballads for baritone and piano (Forberg - Verlag Leipzig) 1926

I) Beautiful Agnete: "As Mr. Ulrichs Witib" ( Agnes Miegel ) 1924
II) Grim Reaper (Ludwig Jacobowsky) 1925
III) The rogue of Bergen: "At Frankfurt on the Römer was today the king's election" (KJ Simrock) 1924

Opus 40 New poetry for mixed choir (Forberg - Verlag Leipzig) 1926

I) King Summer
II) Idyll: "Maria under the linden tree"
III) The drum count: "To the Margrave Ludwig von Hessenland" (Gustav Falke) 1926

Opus 41 Polyphonic Suite in D major for string quartet

I) Toccata
II) Minuet on "Rosenstock Holderblüt"
III) Aria
IV) Rondo burlesco

Opus 42 Suite for male choir (Karl Hochstein - Verlag Heidelberg) 1926

I) Prelude: "Friendship should be sacred to me" ( Alfred Walter Heymel )
II) Polonaise: "I want to be a song singer" (Alfred Walter Heymel)
III) Minuet: "The violins girren softly" (Gustav Falke)
IV) Conclusion: "I'll hold onto life's most beautiful bowl with both hands" (Gustav Falke)

Opus 43 Serene Suite for Mixed Choir

I) Prelude: "Let's joke, blooming hearts" ( Georg Greflinger 1620–1677)
II) Villanelle: The kissable mouth: "Well my hour" ( Heinrich Hetzbold von Weißensee 1250)
III) Humoresque: "The cats are not safe from the dogs" ( Abraham a Santa Clara 1642–1709)
IV) Conclusion: "Should I torment myself with worries" ( Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim 1719–1803)

Opus 44 Three male choirs (Gebrüder HUG and Co - Verlag Leipzig)

I) Storm night: "When it rains through mountains and valleys outside" ( Justinus Kerner )
II) Pale day: "Pale day, you are going there" ( Franz Evers )
III) The nightwalker: "Drummers let your calfskin sound" (Gustav Falke) 1926

Opus 45 Suite for unaccompanied female choir (manuscript 1928)

I) Clouds: "Light evening clouds wander" (Gustav Falke)
II) Wind: "Märzensturm, are you calling me" (Anna Ritter)
III) wave: "Are you teasing me, little rascal" (wild gang)
IV) Sunny world: "My thoughts kiss the sunbeam" ( Karl Vanselow )

Opus 46 Six songs for high voice and piano (manuscript)

I) Spring Song ( Hugo von Hofmannsthal )
II) Unknown
III) Eternal bondage
IV) Unknown
V) Unknown
VI) Unknown

Opus 47 Buddhist pilgrimage for mixed choir and orchestra

Miidera: "Wave surges" (Otto Schmiedel) 1908

Opus 48 Suite for student orchestra (Tonger - Verlag Cologne) 1928

I) Moderato marcato
II) Lento cantabile
III) Finale (Allegro moderato)

Opus 49 Small Suite in C major for four cellos (manuscript) 1912

I) Prelude
II) Chaconne
III) Scherzo, Finale

Opus 50 Quintet in F sharp minor for two violins, viola, cello and piano 1928

I) Prelude: Festivo e marcato, allegro giocoso
II) Largo espressivo e Fuga a 6 voci
III) Theme con variazioni

Opus 51 Cheerful poem by the old masters for male choir (Ernst Eulenburg - Verlag Leipzig)

I) The art of kissing: "The art of kissing, nowhere but on the mouth" (Hammerschmidt)
II) Wedding song: "To love and be loved" ( Michael Kongehl 1646–1710)
III) Cupid in every corner: "Cupid is in every corner"

Opus 52 Twelve Villanelles for medium voice and piano

I) "I got up early one May morning" ( Duke Johann von Brabant , around 1280)
II) A simple, plain little song: "When two hearts find each other" (Christian Schad 1650)
III) "I want to break the red rose"
IV) "My everything is gone"
V) "Come on, love, let's break roses" ( David Schirmer 1623–1667)
VI) "I sat and spun in front of my door"
VII) "Oh glorious, well-decorated May"
VIII) "Hear the moon"
IX) Subtle love: "The girls are like post paper" ( Christian Weise 1642–1708)
X) "Freud in green heath"
XI) "Spring Song"
XII) "Love can do anything"

Opus 53 Cheerful poetry for male choir (Hochstein - Verlag Heidelberg)

I) Dithyrambe: "Let's race through life madly" (Oskar Welten)
II) The music comes: "Klingeling bum bum" (Detlev von Liliencron)

Opus 54 Choral chamber music for three-part male choir, violin. Clarinet, cello, bass (manuscript)

I) Wedding song: “One must praise blessed” (P. Denaisius)
II) Unknown
III) Unknown
IV) Unknown
V) Unknown
VI) Unknown

Opus 55 Opera Eugenia (Martin Platzer) 1926

Opus 56 Two serious chants for male choir (Ernst Eulenburg - Verlag Leipzig)

I) Starry Night: "Look, now it's got dark" (Anna Ritter)
II) The Eternal Song: "The song always rises up" ( Fritz Fink )

Opus 57 Two serious chants for male choir (Karl - Hochstein - Verlag Heidelberg)

I) Farmer's Trutzlied: "The feet firmly and rammed in" ( Gustav Schröer ) 1929
II) "What are you forging, blacksmith"

Opus 58 Two poems by Gottfried Keller for male choir (P. Papst - Verlag GmbH Leipzig)

I) Sunrise: "Drive up, you crystal car"
II) Dear in the morning: "The sun goes through the morning gate"

Opus 59 Suite in A minor for student orchestra 1930

Opus 60 Four Piano Pieces (manuscript)

I) humoresque
II) bells
III) Capriccio burlesque
IV) Variations and Fugue in A minor

Opus 61 Two male choirs (P. Papst - Verlag GmbH Leipzig)

I) Limits of mankind: “If he was an ancient holy father” (W. v. Goethe) 1930
II) The cuckoo and the nightingale: "Once in the deep valley" 1932

Opus 62 Suite in ancient keys for two pianos 1931

I) Toccata (Doric)
II) Scherzo (Phrygian)
III) Larghetto (Lydian)
IV) Capriccio (Mixolydian)

Opus 63 Suite for viol and harpsichord 1932

Opus 64 Christmas Cantata (Cantata for Holy Christmas) for mixed choir, orchestra and solos 1932

Opus 65 Four Münchhausen ballads for piano and voice 1931

I) Countess Monbijou
II) The page from Burgundy
III) Death and love
IV) Anna

Opus 66 Sextet in D minor for two violins, two violas, two cellos (manuscript) 1932

I) Un poco allegro marcato
II) Andante cantabile with variations (B major)
III) Allegro graziosi (D major)

Opus 67 Five Low German Songs “Osterwater” 1923

I) Lütt Anemariken (Klein Annemariechen)
II) pipe not din ogen rod (don't cry your eyes red)
III) We ick blood beautiful (if only I would be beautiful)
IV) Osterwater see Marik
v) At Häwen it was light (it was light in the sky)

Opus 68 Second Symphony in E major (Unfinished)

Opus 69 Composition for piano and voice 1933

"Wake up, Germania"

Opus 70 Hymn for mixed choir and a boy's voice (manuscript)

Saint Elisabeth: "Elisabeth of Thuringia" (Otto König)

Opus 71 "Christmas Serenade" Three easy performance pieces for piano (manuscript)

I) festival march
II) chat
III) Lullaby

Opus 72 Four sacred songs for medium voice and organ (piano)

I) Advent: "Maria went through the thorn forest"
II) Christmas: "Rejoice Heaven" (From the Strasbourg hymn book 1697)
III) New Year: "The beginning, the end, O Lord they are yours" (Simplified translation of Op. 18 No. 2)
IV) Easter: "With joy tender to this journey" (from the hymn book of the Bohemian brothers from 1875)

Opus 73 Choir for male choir with single soprano or soprano choir (song sheets of the DSB sheet 27)

Evening song: "Now the night is falling down" (Juliane Ebbinghaus) 1932

Opus 74 Choir for male choir with single soprano or soprano choir (song sheets of the DSB sheet 41)

To the young man: "Remember young man what I teach you" (Franz Leopold Graf von Stollberg 1750-1819)

Opus 75 movement for male choir with boys or women choir (song sheets of the DSB sheet 40)

"Flame up" (Johann Gottfried Christian Nonne 1814)

Opus 76 “Mazurka” in A minor for piano 1900

Opus 77 folk song for three-part male choir and one-part female choir (song sheets of the DSB sheet 42)

"A minstrel came from Franconia" (Franconian folk tune from the 18th century)

Opus 78 Three madrigals for three female voices based on texts by Walther von der Vogelweide (manuscript) 1925

I) Spring longing: "Winter, what sorrow you bring everywhere"
II) Under the lime tree: "Under the lime tree on the heath"
III) "Young man, be of good cheer"

Opus 79 Two folk songs for three-part male choir and single soprano or soprano choir 1932

I) "A hunter rode in good spirits" (folk song from the 18th century) (song sheets of the DSB sheet 28)
II) "Tomorrow I have to get away from here" (folk song from the 17th century) (song sheets of the DSB sheet 29)

Opus 80 piano music in three parts (manuscript) 1928

I) Prelude
II) Fughetta
III) Capriccio

Opus 81 Three Persian Chants for Soprano and Piano 1903

I) "Look at the world"
II) "Well the death of life's hardship ends"
III) "Yesterday I slept" (based on the translation by Friedrich Rückert )

Opus 82 movement for male choir, bass solo and orchestra

Hymn to work: “Work, work, source of blessings” (H. Seidel) self-published in 1913

Opus 83 movement for male choir with single soprano or soprano choir

The finale: “Silver Star Dreams” (Paul Wolf) 1932

Literature and Sources

Max Chop : "Wilhelm Rinkens - Biography" Simrock-Verlag Berlin / Leipzig 1923.
Max Chop: "A Musical Poet - The Sound Poet Wilhelm Rinkens" in ´Reclams Universum`; 1925.
Eugen Segnitz: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in ´Musikverlag and Musikleben` No. September 24, 1922.
Wolfgang Lidke: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in ´Musik und Gegenwart`, Vol. 11, 1963, p. 542.
Alfred Fillsack (grandson of Rinkens): "Wilhelm Rinkens - work and estate" in ´Thüringer Heimatkalender 1973, 16th year; Pp. 38-40.
Karl-Heinz Hooge (student of Rinkens): "Wilhelm Rinkens - composer and music educator in Eisenach on his 86th birthday (June 15, 1965) - on the 32nd anniversary of his death (June 22, 1965)" in ´Thuringian home calendar 1965, p. 48 -50.
Andreas von Imhoff: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in "Contributions to Rhenish Music History", issue 111; Series 'Rhenish Musicians' 8th episode 1974; Pp. 126-131 Arno Volk-Verlag Cologne
Joachim Bergfeld: "Wilhelm Rinkens on the 50th birthday - life and work" in Thuringian philhermonic sheets ´Ton und Takt` Eisenach June 1929; 3rd year pp. 13-14.
Carl Bamberg: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in monthly messages from the Erfurt men's choir. Special issue for the Rinkensfeier on June 8, 1929; 8th year No. 3
Heinrich Alexander Winkler: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in 'Men in front of Thuringia's gate' Flarchheim 1931
Reinhold Zimmermann: "Remembrance of Wilhelm Rinkens" in the monthly magazine ´Musica`; Booklet 3; Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel 1955.
Reinhold Zimmermann: "Wilhelm Rinkens" in "Messages" of the Aachen Singers' Circle in the DSB 1st year No. 6; November 1953 pp. 63-65.
Walter Blankenburg: "Choir" in ´Music in Past and Present` Vol. 2; 1952 p. 1250.
Eckhard Mascher (grandson of Rinkens): "Family history"
Ilse Rinkens (daughter of Rinkens): "Biography of Wilhelm Rinkens"
Ilse Rinkens (daughter of Rinkens): "Opus index from Opus 56 - Opus 68 (manuscript)
Diary of the long-time housemaid "Nanni" (= Grete Kayser)
Wilhelm Rinkens: "Youth Work by Wilhelm Rinkens" (manuscript)
Reinhold Zimmermann: "Wilhelm Rinkens on the 20th anniversary of his death (June 22nd)" manuscript from May 9, 1953.
Ilse Rinkens (daughter of Rinkens): Opus index from Opus 56 - Opus 68
Alfred Fillsack (grandson of Rinkens): list of opus up to opus 83 (manuscript)
From 'Messages' from the Thuringian Singing Association; Year 7; No. 7; 1933; Pp. 102-112.
L. Hempel: "Wilhelm Rinkens ´Ausklang` and last trip"; Pp. 102-105.
Haubold (Dr.): "Wilhelm Rinkens - his way of life"; Pp. 106-107.
Ludwig Knauer: "Wilhelm Rinkens as man and friend"; Pp. 107-108.
R. Schneider (Professor): "The Artist Wilhelm Rinkens - Work and Personality"; Pp. 108-109.
Rudolf Becker (Dr. phil.): "Wilhelm Rinkens and the music life of Erfurt"; Pp. 109-110.
Wilhelm Rinkens: "Liedertag und Männerchorwesen" The last greeting from Professor Rinkens; Pp. 110-111.
Franz Mädig: "Wilhelm Rinkens +"; Pp. 111-112.
Hans-Christoph Fillsack (great-grandson of Rinkens): Investigations into choral works by Wilhelm Rinkens (1879–1933) ; Scientific term paper as part of the 1st state examination (1982)

Web links

Literature by and about Wilhelm Rinkens in the catalog of the German National Library
Sheet music and audio files by Wilhelm Rinkens in the International Music Score Library Project
Short biography at thueringer-kompisten.de

personal data
SURNAME	Rinkens, Wilhelm
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	German composer and music director
DATE OF BIRTH	June 15, 1879
PLACE OF BIRTH	Eschweiler-Röhe
DATE OF DEATH	June 22, 1933
Place of death	Eisenach