Hyperion Records

Johann Christian Heinrich Rinck (1770–1846) was born in Elgersburg, Thuringia, studied with J C Kittel (1732–1809), a pupil of J S Bach, and eventually became Kantor at the music school in Darmstadt, in which town he was court organist. He composed prolifically, and an organ primer of his enjoyed wide currency. Based on a tune made familiar by Mozart (K265) and generally associated with the words ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little star’, Rinck’s Variations and finale on ‘Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman’, Op 90, was published by Simrock in 1828. A minor-key introduction leads to a simple harmonization of the tune, and there then follow nine variations and a spirited finale, which takes the form of a fugato.

from notes by Relf Clark © 2009