Kinder, Ralph

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Kinder, Ralph

Kinder, Ralph, English-American organist and composer; b. Stalybridge, near Manchester, Jan. 27, 1876; d. Baia, suburb of Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1952. He was taken to the U.S. at the age of 5, and was a chorister in Bristol, R.I. After studies in America, he then studied in London with E.H. Lemare. He held various posts as a church organist in Bristol (1890–98), Providence (1898), and Philadelphia (from 1899). He wrote numerous organ pieces of considerable charm, including Arietta, Berceuse, Caprice, Festival March, Jour de printemps, Moonlight, Souvenir, and In Springtime.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire