X-Nico

4 unusual facts about Ralph Kirkpatrick


9902 Kirkpatrick

It was renamed "Kirkpatrick" for Ralph Kirkpatrick, eminent American harpsichordist, clavichordist, musicologist and teacher.

Catalogues of classical compositions

For Domenico Scarlatti, the Longo catalogue (L numbers) was in use from 1906, and although it has become generally superseded by the 1953 Kirkpatrick catalogue (K or Kk numbers), L numbers are still seen in references.

Giorgio Pestelli

He is perhaps most notable for his 1967 edition of the 555 keyboard sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti, which purports to correct some anachronisms and provides an alternative numbering system (distinguished by P numbers) to those of Alessandro Longo (L numbers) and Ralph Kirkpatrick (K or Kk numbers).

Opus number

Alessandro Longo's 1906 catalogue (L numbers) was superseded by Ralph Kirkpatrick's 1953 catalogue (K or Kk numbers).


Fernando Valenti

After studying with José Iturbi and Ralph Kirkpatrick and débuting in 1950, he recorded extensively, especially in the 1950s, and taught for forty years until his death.


see also