Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr - New Zealand composer/percussionist
Person from New Zealand
Genres: contemporary classical, Avant-Garde, gammarec, New Zealand, 2juma
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About Gareth Farr
Gareth Farr ONZM (born February 29, 1968) is a New Zealand composer and percussionist. He has released a number of classical CDs and composed a number of works performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) and New Zealand Ballet. He has also performed in drag under the name Lilith LaCroix in a show called Drumdrag and has also released a CD under that name. Farr became the composer in residence with Chamber Music New Zealand at 25, the youngest person to hold that post. In 1994, he had four works commissioned for the 1994 International Festival of the Arts including Lilith's Dream of Ecstasy and works for flautist Alexa Still and pianist Michael Houstoun as well as a ballet. His work From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs was specially commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Farr also wrote an orchestral piece Te Papa for the opening of Te Papa, the National Museum of New Zealand, in 1998. In 2000, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performed his percussion concerto Hikoi with Evelyn Glennie at the Sydney Olympics. He has released four CDs of his work on the Trust label with the fifth, Ruaumoko released in early 2006. In 2005, he provided the music for Vula staged during the Christchurch Arts Festival prior to the world debut of his Triple Concerto performed by the New Zealand Trio and Christchurch Symphony. During 2006, New Zealand premieres of Gareth's music included Funambulistic Strains for orchestra and trombone, performed by David Bremner and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, The Wedding for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and TROY the Musical with librettist Paul Jenden. In December 2005 Gareth visited Antarctica as part of Antarctica New Zealand's artist programme. The result of the two week residency was a piece for baritone singer and orchestra inspired by the ill fated last expedition of Robert Falcon Scott. The work will be performed in 2008 by London based New Zealand singer Paul Whelan and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Gareth was appointed Composer in Residence of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. Farr's music shows hints of minimalism, with strong New Zealand, Pacific and Indonesian influences (particularly Gamelan).
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