16.01.2020 Views

Spook

by Gareth Farr | Marimba

by Gareth Farr | Marimba

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

in-Residence for the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. The residency culminated in 2008<br />

with the premiere of Ex Stasis, a symphonic song cycle for four soloists. In 2008, Farr also<br />

celebrated the world premiere of his work Terra Incognita, for bass solo, choir and orchestra,<br />

performed by Paul Whelan and the Orpheus Choir with the New Zealand Symphony<br />

Orchestra. Farr’s artistic excellence was acknowledged when he received the Arts Foundation<br />

of New Zealand’s Arts Laureate Award 2010, which aims to celebrate significant artistic<br />

achievement as well as nurture future creative endeavours.<br />

In March of 2014 Farr’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra received its world premiere from<br />

soloist Tony Lee and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pietari Inkenen.<br />

Its UK premiere followed one year later, with Lee backed by the BBC Philharmonic, with<br />

conductor Tecwyn Evans. The BBC Philharmonic included Farr’s work alongside Douglas<br />

Lilburn’s Symphony No.2 as a programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC<br />

troops’ battle at Gallipoli during World War I. The concerto received critical acclaim,<br />

described by the Dominion Post’s John Button as containing “marvellously free piano<br />

writing surrounded by orchestral sounds that conjure up memories of Prokofiev ballets,<br />

Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortileges and even the Bartok First Piano Concerto…the ear was tickled<br />

bar after bar. I have no doubt that this marvellously inventive piano concerto is bound to<br />

develop an international life all its own.”<br />

Farr’s music is particularly influenced by his extensive study of percussion, both Western<br />

and non-Western. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be linked to the complex and<br />

exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion<br />

music of the Pacific Rim.<br />

Latest information about the composer may be found at www.garethfarr.com.<br />

PE063 – iv

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!