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Joseph Renouf was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1977. Early piano studies were with his parents, both professionally trained pianists, then with a local teacher. Disliking the rigors of practicing, he often chafed under instruction. It wasn’'t until high school that he developed a serious interest for music and the piano, in particular -- at that time -- for the music of Rachmaninoff. He also became semi-obsessional about technique, practicing exercises, scales, and arpeggios for extended periods.

While an undergraduate at Yale University, where he majored in Classics, Joseph studied with Madeleine Forte, a student of Alfred Cortot at the École Normale and Rosina Lhevinne at Juilliard. From her he learned many important things about piano technique, especially regarding rhythmic precision and methods of practice.

Joseph records on a vintage (1917) refurbished Steinway Grand Piano B in his mother’'s teaching studio. He practices in his apartment on a Kawai C34 digital piano.

Joseph is also an avid collector of piano recordings, especially historical ones. His favorite pianists are Emil Gilels, Vladimir Sofronitsky, Simon Barere, David Saperton, Géza Anda, Wilhelm Backhaus, Glenn Gould, and Michael Ponti.

Joseph currently works as a technical editor for Deloitte & Touche (luckily he has another passion: language). Although it is difficult for him to find time to practice, he tries to make time to learn new, and rehash old, repertoire and occasionally practices double thirds and sixths to keep his fingers in shape.


Selected Recordings

J.S. Bach

French Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major
1 - Allemande
2 - Courante
3 - Sarabande
4 - Gavotte
5 - Minuet
6 - Aria
7 - Gigue

Prelude and Fugue in C-Sharp Major, BWV 848
Prelude and Fugue in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 849

Bach-Busoni

Chorale Prelude, "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ"


Ludwig van Beethoven

Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace

Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28 ("Pastorale")
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Scherzo: Allegro vivace
IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Chopin

Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
Ecossaises, Op. 73, No. 3
Etude in E-flat-Major, Op. 10, No. 11
Etude in C Minor, Op. 25, No. 12 ("Ocean")
Fantasy in F Minor, Op. 49
Mazurka in E major, Op. 6, No. 3
Mazurka in F Minor, Op. 7, No. 3
Mazurka in B minor, Op. 30, No. 2
Mazurka in D-Flat Major, Op. 30, No. 3
Mazurka in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 30, No. 4
Mazurka in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 33, No. 1
Nocturne in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 1
Nocturne in D-Flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Polonaise in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 26, No. 1
Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40, No. 1 ("Military")
Waltz in A-Flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1
Waltz in G-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 1
Waltz in F Minor, Op. 70, No. 2
Waltz in D-Flat Major, Op. 70, No. 3

Chopin-Liszt

Song, "In the Spring"

Clementi

Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 5
I. Allegro espressivo
II. Lento e patetico
III. Presto

Debussy

Children's Corner
1 - Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum
2 - Jimbo's Lullaby
3 - Serenade for the Doll
4 - The Snow Is Dancing
5 - Little Shepherd
6 - Golliwog's Cakewalk

Haydn

Andante with Variations in F Minor, Hob. XVII/6

Sonata in C Minor, Hob. XVI/20
I. Moderato
II. Andante con moto
III. Allegro
Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/21
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Presto
Sonata in E Major, Hob. XVI/31
I. Moderato
II. Allegretto
III. Presto

Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI/33
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Tempo di minuetto
Sonata in E Minor, Hob. XVI/34
I. Presto
II. Adagio
III. Vivace molto
Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/35
I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
Sonata in G Major, Hob. XVI/40
I. Allegretto innocente
II. Presto
Sonata in A-Flat Major, Hob. XVI/43
I. Moderato
II. Minuet with Trio
III. Presto
Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI/50
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro molto

6 Variations on an Original Theme in C Major, Hob. XVII/5

Liszt

Abschied, S. 251

Années de Pèlerinage
Première Année (La Suisse)
1 - La chapelle de Guillaume Tell
2 - Au lac de Wallenstadt
3 - Pastorale
4 - Au bord d'une source
5 - Orage
6 - Vallée d'Obermann
7 - Eglogue
8 - Le mal du pays
9 - Les cloches de Genève

Troisième Année
1 - Angelus! Prière aux anges gardiens
2 - Aux cyprès de la Villa d'Este I: Thrénodie
3 - Aux cyprès de la Villa d'Este II: Thrénodie
4 - Les jeux d'eau à la Villa d'Este
5 - Sunt lacrimae rerum/En mode Hongrois
6 - Marche funèbre
7 - Sursum corda

Gondoliera from Venezia e Napoli

Six Consolations, S. 172
1 - Andante con moto
2 - Un poco piú mosso
3 - Lento placido
4 - Quasi adagio
5 - Andantino
6 - Allegretto sempre cantabile

Mendelssohn

Three Songs without Words from Op. 19
1 - Andante con moto in E Major
3 - Molto allegro e vivace in A Major ("Hunting Song")
6 - Andante sostenuto in G Minor ("Venetian Boat Song")

Mozart

Fantasy in C Minor, K. 475

Sonata in C Minor, K. 457
I. Molto allegro
II. Adagio
III. Allegro assai

Mozart-Liszt

"Confutatis" and "Lacrimosa" from Requiem

Mussorgsky

Pictures at an Exhibition
Promenade - Gnomus
Promenade - Il Vecchio Castello
Promenade - Tuileries
Bydlo
Promenade - Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks in Their Shells
Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle
Promenade - The Market at Limoges - Catacombae - Con Mortuis
The Hut on Fowl's Legs - The Great Gate of Kiev

Rachmaninoff

Prelude in C-Sharp Minor, Op. 3, No. 2
Prelude in G-Sharp Minor, Op. 32, No. 12

Schubert

Four Impromptus, D. 899
I. Allegro molto moderato in C Minor
II. Allegro in E-Flat Major
III. Andante in G-Flat Major
IV. Allegretto in A-Flat Minor/Major

Sonata in E-Flat Major, D. 568
I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante molto
III. Menuetto - Allegretto
IV. Allegro moderato

Sonata in D Major, D. 850 ("Gasteiner")
I. Allegro Vivace
II. Con moto
III. Scherzo - Allegro vivace
IV. Rondo - Allegro moderato
10 Variations on an Original Theme in F Major, D. 156

Schumann

Carnaval, Op. 9
Preambule
Pierrot - Arlequin - Valse noble
Eusebius - Florestan - Coquette - Replique
Sphinxes - Papillons - A.S.C.H-S.C.H.A (Lettres Dansantes)
Chiarina - Chopin - Estrella - Reconnaissance
Pantalon et Colombine - Valse Allemande - Paganini
Aveu - Promenade
Pause - Marche des Davidsbündler contre les Philistins

Scriabin

Preludes Op. 11
No. 1, Vivace, in C Major
No. 2, Allegretto, in A Minor
No. 3, Vivo, in G Major
No. 4, Lento, in E Minor
No. 5, Andante cantabile, in D Major
No. 6, Allegro, in B Minor
No. 7, Allegro assai, in A Major
No. 8, Allegro agitato, in F-Sharp Minor
No. 9, Andantino, in E Major

Vivaldi-Bach
Transcription of Violin Concerto, Op. 3, No. 7 (BWV 972)
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegro