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Contributor


Gareth Farr

Composer, Performer

Born: 1968

Biography

Gareth Farr (b.1968) began his studies in composition and percussion performance at the University of Auckland. The experience of hearing a visiting gamelan orchestra prompted his return to Wellington to attend Victoria University, where the characteristic rhythms and textures of the Indonesian gamelan rapidly became hallmarks of his own composition. Farr continued with postgraduate study in composition and percussion at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where his teachers included Samuel Adler and Christopher Rouse. In 1993, at the age of 25, Farr was appointed composer-in-residence by Chamber Music New Zealand, the youngest-ever composer to hold that position. This resulted in the composition of three substantial works, Owhiro (String Quartet No.1), Kebyar Moncar for gamelan, and the chamber sextet Cadenza.

At the conclusion of the residence, Farr returned to the Eastman School to begin a doctorate in composition. As well as composing Kembang Suling for flute and marimba (his most popular work to date) and three works for orchestra during his time, Farr also introduced audiences to his on-stage alter ego, the percussion-playing drag queen Lilith Lacroix. The inclusion of his works in four events at the 1996 New Zealand International Festival of the Arts – the ballet score for Douglas Wright’s Buried Venus, Lilith’s Dream of Ecstasy for orchestra, Kembang Suling, and the Bach-in-Bali piano solo Sepuluh Jari kick-started his career as a dedicated freelance composer. Since then, his music has been heard at, or especially commissioned for high-profile events including the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (the 25-minute From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs), the opening of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa, for orchestra with soprano, tenor and kaikaranga (indigenous New Zealand Maori chant), a work hailed as ‘music with a powerful and moving impact that transcends idiom and individual taste’), and the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (Hikoi, a concerto for percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the NZSO).

A commission by the 2003 Auckland Festival resulted in the massive Stone and Ice, composed for the combined forces of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Gareth Farr’s music is particularly influenced by his extensive study of percussion, both Western and non-Western. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be seen to derive from the complex and exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion music of the Pacific Rim. Naturally, percussion has always been a central focus of Farr’s music, and in 2003-04, he produced a number of works either specifically for or premiered by the STRIKE percussion ensemble, with which he has had a long and fruitful association. As well as the ferocious percussion quartet Pukul, there are two major works featuring concertante parts for percussion ensemble, Onslaught for brass band and percussion and the Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra. The latter work was the result of a commission from the Wellington City Council and the Wellington Sinfonia (now Orchestra Wellington) to compose a work in celebration of the centenary of the city’s Town Hall. In addition to his music for the concert chamber, Farr has written music for dance, theatre and television.

In 2006, the Royal New Zealand Ballet toured the country with their brand new work The Wedding, featuring a score by Gareth Farr. He has had a fruitful career writing music for the stage, including Maui – One Man Against the Gods (2003), and five comedy musicals produced with librettist and director Paul Jenden. In 2007 Farr was appointed as Composer-In-Residence for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra culminating in 2008 with the premiere of Ex Stasis a symphonic song cycle for four soloists. In 2008 Farr also celebrated the world premiere of his work Terra Incognita, for bass baritone solo, choir and orchestra, performed by Paul Whelan and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Gareth’s music was also played by the NZSO in Beijing as part of the 2008 Olympic Games, and in the opening ceremony of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

His work for strings and mezzo soprano, Relict Furies was performed at the 2014 Edinburgh International Festival with soloist mezzo-soprano Sarah Connolly and the Scottish Ensemble. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra was performed in 2015 by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and, most recently, his Cello Concerto was premiered in 2017 by the NZSO and subsequently in France by the Orchestre National de Lorraine.

[Information about Gareth Farr and his music for film and television can also be found on the NZ On Screen website.]

In 2006 Gareth was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for his services to music and entertainment, in 2010 he was a recipient of the prestigious NZ Arts Laureate Award, and in 2014 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from The University of Auckland.


Composed (157)

Acid Euphoria

for gamelan and three percussionists, 6m


Ahi

for piano trio, 16m


Ahi ataahua

for percussion quartet and male voice


Anniversary Antics

for solo string ensemble


Aoraki

for soprano, Maori instruments, percussion and synthesizer, 7m


Ascent

for massed celli


Beowulf

for orchestra, 10m


Bintang

for two pianos (eight hands), 5m 30s


Cadenza

for piccolo, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion, 12m


Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra

for four percussionists and orchestra, 20m


Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

for piano and orchestra


Denpasar Moon

for voice, electric bass and gamelan, 4m 2s


Dialogue

for marimba and vibraphone, 10m


Dua Lagu

for piano, 8m


Dua Lagu

for piano (6 hands), 8m


Duggan

for orchestra and gamelan


Duggan theme

for flute and marimba, 1m 3s


Duggan theme

for marimba and vibraphone, 1m 38s


El Senor Cucharita se pone enfermo

for soprano, saxophone and piano


Etude

for piano, 1m 40s


Etude no. 1 - from Duggan

for solo marimba, 1m


Etude no. 2 - for Jeremy Fitzsimons

for solo marimba, 2m 8s


Ex Stasis

for four voices and orchestra


Fanfare for the Phil

for orchestra


Five Little Monologues

for two clarinets, 5m


Formalities

for marimba


Four Postcards from the Lakes

for violin and cello, 13m 30s


Frenzy

for string quartet, 9m


From Forgotten Forests

for solo harp, 8m


Funambulistic Strains

for trombone and orchestra


Gareth Plays the Drawbridge

for percussion duo


Gem

for piano, 3m 30s


Goa Lawah (Bat Cave)

for saxophone quartet, 5m


He Iwi Tahi Tātou

for orchestra


He Poroporoaki (Saying Goodbye)

for string quartet and taonga puoro, 5m


He Tango mo Elena

for solo violin, tenor and Kapa Haka and orchestra, 7m


He Wawata

for soprano, baritone and piano, 3m


Headrush

for gamelan


Hikoi

for percussion and orchestra, 30m


Hopukia te tao

Te Re Māori, Taonga Puoro, Haka, Western Classical, Back Beat, 3m


Illumina

for soprano, mixed choir and percussion


Into The Chasm

for two pianos (eight hands), 9m


Jangan Lupa

for piano, 3m


Ka Tukua Koe – I Release You

Te Reo Māori, Ochestral, Taonga Puoro, 6m 29s


Kaitiaki

for choir and orchestra


Kembang Suling

for flute and marimba, 10m


Kendang Kalih

for two percussionists, 7m


Le Temps est a la Pluie

for chamber orchestra, 8m


Les Murray Song Cycle

for vocal sextet, 13m


Lilith's Dream of Ecstasy

for orchestra, 10m


Lima Gending

for three recorders


Lima Lagu

for three recorders


Little Sea Gongs

for percussion quartet, 3m


Love Songs

for piano, 6m


Mad Little Machine

for woodwind quintet, 5m


Madrigal

for clarinet and piano


Marimba Concerto

for marimba and orchestra


Matariki

Te Reo Māori, Matariki, Choral, Percussion, 5m 14s


Meditation (clarinet version)

for clarinet and piano, 7m


Meditation (saxophone version)

for alto saxophone and piano, 7m


Meditation (viola version)

for viola and piano, 7m


Mondo Rondo

for string quartet, 12m


Mondo Rondo

for piano trio


Mouse Hole

for piano, 5m


Movement

for clarinet and piano, 7m


Music from a High Altitude

for piano, percussion, cello and clarinet, 12m


Naga Baba

for chamber orchestra, 18m


Nga Tai Hurihuri

for soprano, kaikarangi and percussion quartet, 7m


Nga whetu e whitu

for flute and piano, 14m


Ngake and Whātaitai

for viola and piano, 12m


Ngā Kete e Toru

for piano trio and taonga puoro


Only the Rocks Remain

for soprano and wind octet, 15m


Onslaught

for brass band and percussion, 9m 30s


Orakau

for bass voice and orchestra, 13m


Ornithological Anecdotes

for baritone and piano


Pagan Prayer

for soprano, percussion quartet, two trombones and two bass trombones


Pembuka'an

for orchestra, 4m


Penataan

for orchestra, 10m


Piano Concerto (1989)

for piano and orchestra, 20m


Premonition

for clarinet, 9m


Pukul

for percussion quintet, 9m


Queen of Demons

for orchestra, 12m


Rain

for piano


Ramayana

for piano, 5m


Rangitoto

for percussion quartet and orchestra, 7m


Rehu Ma Tangi

for four recorders, puoro Maori soli and recorder ensemble


Relict Furies

for mezzo-soprano and double string orchestra, 12m


Rome - the musical

for vocal soloists and ensemble


Rona e te marama

for Balinese and Javanese Gamelan, 10m


Ruaumoko

for orchestra, 27m


Saraswati

for soprano, violin and three marimbas, 10m


Saxcession

for saxophone quartet


Sepuluh Jari

for piano, 9m


Shadow of the Hawk

for piano and cello, 11m


Silver Stone Wood Bone

for flute and taonga puoro, 10m 30s


Spook

for marimba, 10m


Spring Flames

for chamber ensemble


Still Sounds Lie

for soprano and harp, 8m


Stone and Ice

for orchestra


Tabuh Pacific (Pacific Percussion)

for gamelan and orchestra, 17m


Taheke

for flute and harp, 12m


Tahu-nui-ā-Rangi

for cello and marimba, 16m


Taku Tamaiti E (My Child)

for voice with te reo Māori, taonga puoro, Western Classical, 3m 56s


Tangaroa

for marimba, 10m


Tangi Haehae

vocal duo and percussion, 4m


Tangi Te Kawekawea

for SATB choir and percussion, 3m


Taniwha

for bassoon and percussion


Tawhirimatea

for brass band, 9m


Te Kōanga

for string quartet


Te Papa

for soprano (Maori karanga), mezzo-soprano, tenor and orchestra, 10m


Te Parenga

for clarinet, percussion and strings, 8m


Te Puna o Waiwhetu

for wind orchestra


Te Tai-O-Rehua

for string quartet


Te Wairua o Te Whenua

for soprano, bass, kapa haka and orchestra, 20m


Terra Incognita

for bass voice, SATB choir and orchestra, 11m 30s


The Ballad of Glady's Dream

for voice and tape/electronics


The Bone Feeder

for twelve singers and chamber ensemble, 1h 20m


The Last Pace

for orchestra


The Mad Dog Bites Again

for saxophone quartet and percussion, 4m


The Nor'west Arch

for brass band, 10m


Three Little Pieces for Eve

for percussion and piano, 6m


Time and Tide

for violin, marimba and chamber orchestra, 17m


Tirohia atu nei

for choir (SSAATTBB) and percussion, 6m


Toccata

for harp, 6m


Triple Concerto

for piano trio and orchestra, 22m


Tuatara

for percussion and piano, 9m


Tubes

for percussion quartet, 7m


Ukare Funk

for percussion quartet, 6m 30s


Unforeseen Evolutions

for violin and piano


Uri Taniwha

for voice, taonga puoro and gamelan, 5m


Volume Pig

for percussion quartet, 12m


Vula Canon

for string orchestra with tubular bells, 5m


Waipiro

for brass band, 10m


Waipoua

for clarinet in A and piano, 5m


Waipoua (version for clarinet and strings)

for clarinet in A and string orchestra, 5m


Waka

for solo voice (kaikaranga) and orchestra, 9m


Wakatipu

for violin, 6m


Warriors from Pluto

for five percussionists and double string orchestra, 17m


Whakamaua kia u

for voice and percussion, 4m


Where Will They Bury My Bones

for baritone voice, piano and string quartet, 23m


Ā Muri Ra

Te Reo Māori, Dramatic, Film



Commissioned (1)

Four Marimbulations

for marimba, 15m



Recordings (33)

Brass Aotearoa - CD

Audio/visual


Elena - CD

Audio/visual


Elena: Elena's Cultural Symphony - CD

Nz recordings not by sounz composers


Estrella: Tui - CD

Audio/visual


Island Song - CD

Audio/visual


Ogen Trio: Ahi - CD

Audio/visual



Resources (32)

Farr from Heaven - VIDEO

Media on demand


How to Hear Classical Music - BOOK

Commentary or analysis


On Disk: Composers - DVD

Education resource



Performances (11)

Opus Orchestra - Ahead of the Game

Four flying mallets, one brilliant operator, 69 wooden bars and a brand-new composition combine t...


NZSQ at Huria Marae

The NZSQ is performing two free concerts (at 1:00pm and 5:30pm) at the Huria Marae, Tauranga, in ...


Christchurch Symphony Orchestra | Spirit of Adventure

__Benjamin Northey__ | Chief Conductor __Lev Sivkov__ | Cello ___ __PROGRAMME:__ Lilbu...


Martinborough Music Festival

Featuring: Wilma Smith, violin Diedre Irons, piano Mark Walton, clarinet Amalia H...


NZSO | Matariki (Auckland)

__Gemma New__ | conductor __Ariana Tikao__ | taonga pūoro __Mere Boynton__ | kaikaranga ...


NZSO | Matariki (Wellington)

__Gemma New__ | conductor __Ariana Tikao__ | taonga pūoro __Mere Boynton__ | kaikaranga ...


Chamber Music NZ | Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (New Plymouth)

__Additional performances:__ [October 18th (Nelson)](https://www.sounz.org.nz/events/27...


Chamber Music NZ | Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (Nelson)

__Additional performances:__ [October 21st (Napier)](https://www.sounz.org.nz/events/27...


Chamber Music NZ | Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (Napier)

__Bridget Reweti__ | moving image __Alistair Fraser__ | ngā taonga puoro __Bridget Douglas_...


Chamber Music NZ | Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (Christchurch)

__Additional performances:__ [October 15th (New Plymouth)](https://www.sounz.org.nz/eve...


Chamber Music NZ | Silver. Stone. Wood. Bone. (Wellington)

__Bridget Reweti__ | moving image __Alistair Fraser__ | ngā taonga puoro __Bridget Douglas_...