Ralph Kirkpatrick
Ralph Kirkpatrick (* June 10, 1911 in Leominster, Massachusetts - † April 13, 1984 in Guilford, Connecticut) was a musician, musicologist and harpsichordist.
He studied music notation and piano at the Harvard University and went on to further studies by Nadia Boulanger and revival pioneer Wanda Landowska in Paris, Arnold Dolmetsch in Haslemere, Heinz Tiessen in Berlin and Günther Ramin in Leipzig. From 1933-34 he taught at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. A Guggenheim-Scholarship enabled him to study in Europe.
1940 he was professor at the Yale-University, where he published his biography of Domenico Scarlatti and a critical edition of the latter's complete works. These are now conventionally designated by their "Kirkpatrick Numbers" (see opus number).
Moreover he worked about Modern Music as Quincy Porters Concert for Harpsichord and Orchestra, Darius Milhauds Sonate for Violine and Harpsichord, Doubelconcert for Harpsichord, Piano and Chamberorchestra by Elliott Carter, which is dedicated to himself.
As a performer and recording artist, he became best known for his harpsichord performances of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach and Domenico Scarlatti. He also recorded on the clavichord (e.g. Bach's Two- and Three-part Inventions) and on the fortepiano (especially works by Mozart).
