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Gareth Farr (1968-     )

Gareth Farr, composerComposer, percussionist—and drag queen—Gareth Farr is an indisputably colourful figure in New Zealand music, and, whether scored for percussion duet or the resources of two large orchestras, his music reflects his personality—bold, brash, or delicate and sensuous, but inevitably, immediately engaging. He was born in Wellington, New Zealand, studied composition, orchestration and electronic music at Auckland University and was a regular player with the Auckland Philharmonia and the Karlheinz Company. Further study followed at Victoria University, Wellington, where he became known for his exciting compositions, often using the Indonesian gamelan. He played frequently as a member of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra before going to the Eastman School in Rochester, New York, where he took the degree of Master of Music. At 25 he became Chamber Music New Zealand’s youngest composer-in-residence. Since then, his works have been performed by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Auckland Philharmonia, the Wellington Sinfonia, the New Zealand String Quartet and a variety of other professional musicians.
Marc Grauwels/Naxos

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Farr Links     ~ ~ ~     Works by Genre
Kendhang Kalih, percussion duet (1990)
Toccata, harp (1990)
Pembuka’an, orchestra (1990/2004)
Only the Rocks Remain, soprano and wind octet (1991)
Pièce pour Michael, harp (1991)
Ramayana, piano (1991)
Etude, piano (1992)
Lima Gending, 3 recorders (1992)
Kebyar, perpared piano (1992)
Chèngchèng, Gamelan Angklung, 2 harps and percussion quartet (1992)
From Forgotten Forests, harp (1992)
Volume Pig, percussion quartet (1992)
Pagan Prayer, soprano, 4 trombones and percussion quartet (1992)
Owhiro, string quartet (1993)
Dua Lagu, piano 6-hands (1993)
Taikoan, Taiko drum ensemble and Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Kebyar Moncar, Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Segi Tiga, Gamelan Angklung (1993)
Cadenza, chamber ensemble (1993/2002)
Goa Lawah, saxophone quartet (1994)
Tentang Chara Gamelan, piano (1994)
Anakanakan, children's percussion ensemble (1994)
Reongan, Javanese Gamelan (1994)
Saxcession, saxophone quartet (1994)
Waipoua, clarinet and string orchestra (or piano) (1994)
Reong Lenggong, Javanese Gamelan (1995)
Le Temps est à la Pluie, chamber orchestra (1995)
Tabuh Pacific, Gamelan and orchestra (1995)
Lilith’s Dream of Ecstasy, orchestra (1995)
Saraswati, soprano, violin and 3 marimbas (1995)
Kembang Suling, flute and marimba (1995)
From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs, orchestra (1996)
Meditation, viola and piano (1996)
Sepuluh Jari, piano (1996)
Te Papa, mezzo-soprano, tenor, Kaikaranga and orchestra (1996/2003)
Still Sounds Lie, soprano and harp (1996/2005)
Duggan Theme, vibraphone and marimba (1997)
Duggan Theme, flute and marimba  (1997) 
Queen of Demons, orchestra (1997) 
Naga Baba, chamber orchestra (1997)
Little Sea Gongspercussion quartet (1997) 
Mondo Rondo, string quartet (1997)
Shadow of the Hawk, cello and piano (1997)
Duggan, TV series score (1997)
Ruaumoko, orchestra (1997/2001)
Tuatara, percussion and piano (1998)
Ahi, piano trio [violin, cello, piano] (1998)
Tangi te Kawekawea, chorus and percussion (1998)
Frenzy, string quartet (1998)
Hikoi, concerto for percussion and orchestra (1998/2000)
Mouse Hole, piano (1998/2002)
Premonition, clarinet (1999)
Beat!, percussion trio and Javanese Gamelan (1999)
Pandemonia’s Spells, organ (1999)
Rehu ma Tangi, 4 recorders, Puoro Maori, and recorder ensemble (1999)
Orakau, bass and orchestra (1999)
This Is It, TV movie score (1999)
Rangitoto, orchestra (1999/2003)
The Mad Dog Bites Again, saxophone quartet and percussion (2000)
Te Wairua o te Whenua, Kapahaka and orchestra (2000)
Warriors from Pluto, concerto for 5 percussion soloists and double string orchestra (2000)
Tirohia Atu Nei, chorus and percussion (2000)
Waipiro, brass band (2000/02)
Beowulf, orchestra (2000/03)
Spook, marimba (2000/04)
Time and Tide, orchestra (2001)
Nga Tai Hurihuri, soprano, Kaikaranga and percussion quartet (2001)
Tangaroa, marimba (2001)
Te Parenga, clarinet, percussion and strings (2001)
Love Songs, piano (2001)
Triple Concerto, piano trio and orchestra (2001/2005)
Pathways, chorus, synthesiser and percussion (2002)
Waka, Kaikaranga and orchestra (2002)
Un Verano de Passion, clarinet, tenor saxophone, guitar and marimba (2002)
Taheke, flute and harp (2002)
Tawhirimatea, brass band (2002)
He Tango mo Elena, violin, Kapahaka and orchestra (2002)
Anniversary Antics, 16 solo strings (2002)
The Strip, TV series score (2002)
Te Puna o Waiwhetu, wind orchestra (2003)
Waikohu, soprano and percussion (2003)
Pukul, percussion quintet (2003)
Jangan Lupa, piano (2003)
Stone and Ice, orchestra (2003)
Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, 4 percussion solists and orchestra (2004)
Onslaught, brass band and percussion (2004)
Meditation, alto saxophone and piano (2004)
Aoraki, soprano, Kapahaka, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Three Etudes, marimba (2005)
The Wedding, ballet for orchestra (2005)
Dialogue, vibraphone and marimba (2005)
Nga Whetu e Whitu, flute and piano (2005)
Les Murray Song Cycle, vocal ensemble (2005)
Three Little Pieces for Eve, percussion and piano (2006)
Five Little Monologues, 2 clarinets (2006)
Percussion Octet (2006)
For Helen, piano (2006)
Funambulistic Strains, trombone and orchestra (2006)
Dead Letters, short film score (2006)
Rona e te Marama, dancer and Gamelan (2007)
Lagu Untuk Teman Lama, Malaysian Gamelan (2007)
Terra Incognita, bass, chorus and orchestra (2007)
The Horizon From Owhiro Bay, piano (2007)
Fanfare for the Phil, orchestra (2007)
This Last Pace, orchestra (2007)
Trigger Happy, brass band (2008)
Fanfare in Five, brass quintet (2008)
He Poroporoaki, Taonga Puoro and string quartet (2008)
Ex Stasis, 4 voices and orchestra (2008)
Ukare Funk, percussion quartet (2008)
Tubes, percussion quartet (2008)
Kaitangata Twitch Theme, flute (2009)
Pukul Wainui, percussion ensemble and Javanese Gamelan orchestra (2009)
Kia Ora Khalid, 4 voices, children's choir and chamber ensemble (2009)
Rome, chamber ensemble (2009)
Voyage, orchestra (2009)
Tangata o le Moana, electroacoustic work (2009)
The Seventh Age, viola, Chinese Sheng and Balinese Gamelan (2009)
Romp, piano trio [violin, cello, piano] (2009)
Claudia’s Victory, piano (2009)
Illumina, soprano, chorus and percussion (2009)
Wakatipu, violin (2009)
Harakeke, Taonga Puoro and chorus (2010)
Saat Akhir, gamelan  (2010)
This Holy Fire of Love, 2 voices and orchestra (2010)
Nga Kete e Toru, Taonga Puoro, and piano trio (violin, cello, piano) (2010)
Kaitangata Twitch, TV series score (2010)
Kaitiaki, chorus and orchestra (2011)
Panic at Rock Island, TV movie score (2011)
We Do Things Differently Here, short film score (2011)


WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Farr Links     ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Rona e te Marama, dancer and Gamelan (2007)

Orchestra
Pembuka’an, orchestra (1990/2004)
Le Temps est à la Pluie, chamber orchestra (1995)
Lilith’s Dream of Ecstasy, orchestra (1995)
From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs, orchestra (1996)
Queen of Demons, orchestra (1997) 
Naga Baba, chamber orchestra (1997)
Rangitoto, orchestra (1999/2003)
Beowulf, orchestra (2000/03)
Time and Tide, orchestra (2001)
Anniversary Antics, 16 solo strings (2002)
Stone and Ice, orchestra (2003)
The Wedding, ballet for orchestra (2005)
Fanfare for the Phil, orchestra (2007)
This Last Pace, orchestra (2007)
Voyage, orchestra (2009)

Band or Brass Band or Wind Ensemble
Waipiro, brass band (2000/02)
Tawhirimatea, brass band (2002)
Te Puna o Waiwhetu, wind orchestra (2003)
Onslaught, brass band and percussion (2004)
Trigger Happy, brass band (2008)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Waipoua, clarinet and string orchestra (1994) [also arr. for clarinet and piano]
Tabuh Pacific, Gamelan and orchestra (1995)
Hikoi, concerto for percussion and orchestra (1998/2000)
Te Wairua o te Whenua, Kapahaka and orchestra (2000)
Warriors from Pluto, concerto for 5 percussion soloists and double string orchestra (2000)
Te Parenga, clarinet, percussion and strings (2001)
Triple Concerto, piano trio and orchestra (2001/2005)
Waka, Kaikaranga and orchestra (2002)
He Tango mo Elena, violin, Kapahaka and orchestra (2002)
Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, 4 percussion solists and orchestra (2004)
Aoraki, soprano, Kapahaka, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Funambulistic Strains, trombone and orchestra (2006)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Terra Incognita, bass, chorus and orchestra (2007)
Kaitiaki, chorus and orchestra (2011)

Choral
Tangi te Kawekawea, chorus and percussion (1998)
Tirohia Atu Nei, chorus and percussion (2000)
Pathways, chorus, synthesiser and percussion (2002)
Les Murray Song Cycle, vocal ensemble (2005)
Kia Ora Khalid, 4 voices, children's choir and chamber ensemble (2009)
Illumina, soprano, chorus and percussion (2009)
Harakeke, Taonga Puoro and chorus (2010)

Gamelan
Taikoan, Taiko drum ensemble and Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Kebyar Moncar, Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Segi Tiga, Gamelan Angklung (1993)
Reongan, Javanese Gamelan (1994)
Reong Lenggong, Javanese Gamelan (1995)
Tabuh Pacific, Gamelan and orchestra (1995)
Beat!, percussion trio and Javanese Gamelan (1999)
Rona e te Marama, dancer and Gamelan (2007)
Lagu Untuk Teman Lama, Malaysian Gamelan (2007)
Pukul Wainui, percussion ensemble and Javanese Gamelan orchestra (2009)
The Seventh Age, viola, Chinese Sheng and Balinese Gamelan (2009)
Saat Akhir, gamelan  (2010)

Chamber
see also  - Works for Percussion
Kendhang Kalih, percussion duet (1990)
Lima Gending, 3 recorders (1992)
Chèngchèng, Gamelan Angklung, 2 harps and percussion quartet (1992)
Volume Pig, percussion quartet (1992)
Owhiro, string quartet (1993)
Taikoan, Taiko drum ensemble and Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Cadenza, chamber ensemble (1993/2002)
Goa Lawah, saxophone quartet (1994)
Anakanakan, children's percussion ensemble (1994)
Saxcession, saxophone quartet (1994)
Kembang Suling, flute and marimba (1995)
Duggan Theme, vibraphone (or flute) and marimba (1997)
Little Sea Gongs, percussion quartet (1997) 
Mondo Rondo, string quartet (1997)
Tuatara, percussion and piano (1998)
Ahi, piano trio [violin, cello, piano] (1998)
Frenzy, string quartet (1998)
Rehu ma Tangi, 4 recorders, Puoro Maori, and recorder ensemble (1999)
The Mad Dog Bites Again, saxophone quartet and percussion (2000)
Te Parenga, clarinet, percussion and strings (2001)
Un Verano de Passion, clarinet, tenor saxophone, guitar and marimba (2002)
Taheke, flute and harp (2002)
Anniversary Antics, 16 solo strings (2002)
Dialogue, vibraphone and marimba (2005)
Three Little Pieces for Eve, percussion and piano (2006)
Five Little Monologues, 2 clarinets (2006)
Percussion Octet (2006)
Fanfare in Five, brass quintet (2008)
He Poroporoaki, Taonga Puoro and string quartet (2008)
Ukare Funk, percussion quartet (2008)
Tubes, percussion quartet (2008)
Rome, chamber ensemble (2009)
The Seventh Age, viola, Chinese Sheng and Balinese Gamelan (2009)
Romp, piano trio [violin, cello, piano] (2009)
Nga Kete e Toru, Taonga Puoro, and piano trio (violin, cello, piano) (2010)

Instrument and Piano
Waipoua, clarinet and piano (1994) [from work for clarinet and string orch]
Meditation, viola and piano (1996)
Shadow of the Hawk, cello and piano (1997)
Ruaumoko, orchestra (1997/2001)
Tuatara, percussion and piano (1998)
Meditation, alto saxophone and piano (2004)
Nga Whetu e Whitu, flute and piano (2005)
Three Little Pieces for Eve, percussion and piano (2006)

Solo Instrument
Toccata, harp (1990)
Pièce pour Michael, harp (1991)
From Forgotten Forests, harp (1992)
Premonition, clarinet (1999)
Spook, marimba (2000/04)
Tangaroa, marimba (2001)
Three Etudes, marimba (2005)
Kaitangata Twitch Theme, flute (2009)
Wakatipu, violin (2009)

Piano or Organ
Ramayana, piano (1991)
Etude, piano (1992)
Kebyar, perpared piano (1992)
Dua Lagu, piano 6-hands (1993)
Tentang Chara Gamelan, piano (1994)
Sepuluh Jari, piano (1996)
Mouse Hole, piano (1998/2002)
Pandemonia’s Spells, organ (1999)
Love Songs, piano (2001)
Jangan Lupa, piano (2003)
For Helen, piano (2006)
The Horizon From Owhiro Bay, piano (2007)
Claudia’s Victory, piano (2009)

Vocal
Only the Rocks Remain, soprano and wind octet (1991)
Pagan Prayer, soprano, 4 trombones and percussion quartet (1992)
Saraswati, soprano, violin and 3 marimbas (1995)
Te Papa, mezzo-soprano, tenor, Kaikaranga and orchestra (1996/2003)
Still Sounds Lie, soprano and harp (1996/2005)
Orakau, bass and orchestra (1999)
Nga Tai Hurihuri, soprano, Kaikaranga and percussion quartet (2001)
Waikohu, soprano and percussion (2003)
Aoraki, soprano, Kapahaka, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Les Murray Song Cycle, vocal ensemble (2005)
Terra Incognita, bass, chorus and orchestra (2007)
Ex Stasis, 4 voices and orchestra (2008)
Kia Ora Khalid, 4 voices, children's choir and chamber ensemble (2009)
This Holy Fire of Love, 2 voices and orchestra (2010)

Incidental/Film
Duggan, TV series score (1997)
This Is It, TV movie score (1999)
The Strip, TV series score (2002)
Dead Letters, short film score (2006)
Kaitangata Twitch, TV series score (2010)
Panic at Rock Island, TV movie score (2011)
We Do Things Differently Here, short film score (2011)

Electronic/Electroacoustic
Tangata o le Moana, electroacoustic work (2009)


FOR PERCUSSION
Percussion Concertos
Hikoi, concerto for percussion and orchestra (1998/2000)
Te Wairua o te Whenua, Kapahaka and orchestra (2000)
Warriors from Pluto, concerto for 5 percussion soloists and double string orchestra (2000)
Waka, Kaikaranga and orchestra (2002)
He Tango mo Elena, violin, Kapahaka and orchestra (2002)
Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, 4 percussion solists and orchestra (2004)
Aoraki, soprano, Kapahaka, percussion and orchestra (2004)
Pukul Wainui, percussion ensemble and Javanese Gamelan orchestra (2009)

Chamber
Kendhang Kalih, percussion duet (1990)
Chèngchèng, Gamelan Angklung, 2 harps and percussion quartet (1992)
Volume Pig, percussion quartet (1992)
Pagan Prayer, soprano, 4 trombones and percussion quartet (1992)
Taikoan, Taiko drum ensemble and Javanese Gamelan (1993)
Little Sea Gongs, percussion quartet (1997) 
Tuatara, percussion and piano (1998)
Beat!, percussion trio and Javanese Gamelan (1999)
The Mad Dog Bites Again, saxophone quartet and percussion (2000)
Nga Tai Hurihuri, soprano, Kaikaranga and percussion quartet (2001)
Te Parenga, clarinet, percussion and strings (2001)
Waikohu, soprano and percussion (2003)
Pukul, percussion quintet (2003)
Onslaught, brass band and percussion (2004)
Dialogue, vibraphone and marimba (2005)
Three Little Pieces for Eve, percussion and piano (2006)
Ukare Funk, percussion quartet (2008)
Tubes, percussion quartet (2008)

Marimba
Saraswati, soprano, violin and 3 marimbas (1995)
Kembang Suling, flute and marimba (1995)
Duggan Theme, vibraphone (or flute) and marimba (1997)
Spook, marimba (2000/04)
Tangaroa, marimba (2001)
Three Etudes, marimba (2005)
Dialogue, vibraphone and marimba (2005)

Percussion Ensemble
Anakanakan, children's percussion ensemble (1994)


FARR  LINKS                                                            Works by Genre      ~ top of page ~
[under construction]
Gareth Farr Interview (The Wellingtonian)
Not Just a Pretty Face (Grace Magazine)

Composer's website   . . .   contact Gareth Farr:  here

Farr @ Wikipedia
Farr @ The Arts Foundation
Farr @ Christchurch Libraries
Farr @ Classical Archives
Farr @ DrumDrag
Farr @ Facebook
Farr @ IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Farr @ InstantEncore
Farr @ LinkedIn
Farr @ MusicWeb International
Farr @ Naxos
Farr @ The New York Times
Farr @ New Zealand Dance Company
Farr @ NZ On Screen
Farr @ SOUNZ
Farr @ David Spicer Productions
Farr @ Te Ara Encyclopedia
Farr @ Trust Records

Publisher
Farr @ Composer's website/publisher listings
Farr @ Promethean Editions

Streaming Audio
Farr @ Classical Archives
Farr @ last.fm
Farr @ MySpaceMusic (via Google Advanced Search)
Farr @ Rhapsody.com

Recordings
Farr @ Composer's website
Farr @ Amazon.com
Farr @ ArkivMusic
Farr @ CD Universe
Farr @ ClassicsOnline
Farr @ Discogs
Farr @ itunes (US)
Farr @ itunes (NZ)
Farr @ Naxos
Farr @ Trust Records

Video
Farr @ YouTube
Farr @ Google Video
Farr @ Vimeo (via Google Advanced Search)
                                                                                                                                                                     ~ top of page ~
Farr on Farr: On Composing/Education USA (VIDEO)








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