Mondo Rondo is one of Farr's most widely performed chamber music works. It is immediately engaging due to its combination of exotic melodies and percussive, funky rhythms throughout the three contrasting movements. Farr incorporates a clever use of the ensemble with hocketting pizzicato, in which a tune is shared and passed between players. Farr combines this pizzicato with "body percussion" (by tapping on the string instruments), which evokes the unique sound of the m'bira (African thumb piano). This work is perfect for string quartets looking for repertoire that is energetic and enjoyable for listeners.
Gareth Farr is an indisputably colourful figure in New Zealand music. And whether scored for percussion duet or the resources of two large orchestras, Farr's music reflects his personality – bold, brash, or delicate and sensuous, but inevitably, immediately, engaging. Rhythmic elements of his compositions can be linked to the complex and exciting rhythms of Rarotongan log drum ensembles, Balinese gamelan and other percussion music of the Pacific Rim. In addition to his music for the concert chamber, Farr has written music for dance, theatre and television.
