Gareth Farr

Gareth Vincent Farr ONZM (born 29 February 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 Royal 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.

Gareth Farr

ONZM
Farr in 2011
Born (1968-02-29) 29 February 1968
Wellington, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Other namesLilith LaCroix
Alma mater
Occupation

Early life and career

Farr was born in Wellington in 1968.[1] He began his studies at the University of Auckland in composition, orchestration and electronic music. While studying there, he performed as a member of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (APO) and the Karlheinz Company. Farr was always available as a performer to play new works by other composers. Returning to Wellington in 1988 for further study at Victoria University of Wellington, he gained note for his compositions, at this time becoming increasingly excited with exploring the Indonesian gamelan. He played percussion frequently with the NZSO before going to the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York for advanced study.

Later career

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. In 1996, he signed to music publisher Promethean Editions becoming a founding house composer.

His work From the Depths Sound the Great Sea Gongs was specially commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the NZSO. 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 NZSO 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.[2]

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 Orchestra. During 2006, New Zealand premieres of Farr's music included Funambulistic Strains for orchestra and trombone, performed by David Bremner and the NZSO, The Wedding for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, and TROY the Musical with librettist Paul Jenden.

In December 2005 Farr visited Antarctica as part of Antarctica New Zealand's artist programme, Artists to Antarctica. 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 was performed in 2008 by London-based New Zealand singer Paul Whelan and the NZSO.

In 2008, Gareth was appointed Composer in Residence of the APO. Farr composed a memorial piece for the Christchurch earthquake, Nor'West Arch, first performed on 25 September 2011. The title makes reference to a particular Christchurch weather pattern, but is also that part of the ChristChurch Cathedral that received most damage in the earthquake. Dean Peter Beck was part of the performance, reading out an introduction and a reflection.[3][4] The concert was one of the highlights of the 2011 Christchurch Arts Festival.[5]

In 2015, Relict Furies by Farr and Paul Horan had its premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival. Described as "a masterful portrayal of grief and desolation and one of the most moving tributes to those who lived through World War I", it also played as part of the New Zealand Festival in March 2016.

In 2017, The Bone Feeder played as part of the Auckland Festival from 23 to 26 March. A new opera, it was scored by Farr and written by poet and playwright Renee Liang, and explored the mysteries, traumas and gifts of migration, home and belonging. Directed by Sara Brodie and conducted by Peter Scholes, the opera takes Farr's unique combination of Western, Māori and Chinese instruments to create sweeping beautiful and playful music sung in English, Māori and Cantonese.[6]

Also in 2017, Farr worked on another NZSO commission, a substantial cello concerto titled Chemin des Dames, with a personal World War I connection. "All three of my great-grandmother’s elder brothers, beautiful young boys, were killed within a year in separate battles in northern France and Belgium". The concerto premiered in New Zealand and France by cellist Sébastien Hurtaud,[7] recognising a shared wartime history.[8]

Alongside Jack Body, Gillian Whitehead and John Psathas, Farr is one of the noted New Zealand composers.[9]

Lilith LaCroix

Gareth Farr also performs in drag as Lilith LaCroix in cabaret shows. Since 1997, the cabaret Drumdrag features Lilith playing the drums and Farr has recorded a CD released under her name.[10] LaCroix also made a music video to promote the album. Advertisers have also asked LaCroix to appear in advertisements.

Farr promotes himself as an entertainer as well as a composer:

I would, perhaps, be criticised for being too entertaining by some composers, but I don't know what's wrong with that because that is why I write music—I'm an entertainer. That's a dirty word in the classical department, but I don't care. I've even got it on my business card – composer/entertainer – because, hey, let's face it, that's what I do.[11]

Honours

In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Farr was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to music and entertainment.[12]

References
  1. "Famous New Zealanders : Gareth Farr". Christchurch City Libraries. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  2. Refreshments music reviews, New Zealand Listener 2005-11-05, Vol. 201 Issue 3417, p41
  3. "Christchurch Memorial" (PDF). Christchurch Arts Festival. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  4. "Works by Farr Feature in Christchurch Memorial Concert". Promethean Editions Ltd. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  5. "Christchurch Arts Festival a Success Against the Odds". Ministry of Economic Development. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  6. "Composer-percussionist Gareth Farr turns his hand to opera". , New Zealand Listener 18 March 2017 issue
  7. "FARR: Cello Concerto, Chemin des Dames (première performance)". Radio New Zealand. 18 May 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  8. "Composer-percussionist Gareth Farr turns his hand to opera". , New Zealand Listener 18 March 2017 issue
  9. Swarbrick, Nancy (15 June 2010). "Creative life – Music". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  10. Swarbrick, Nancy (14 June 2010). "Gareth Farr". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  11. "White Hot" The Press arts feature 26 October 2005, page D1
  12. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
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