Relict Furies, for mezzo-soprano and double string orchestra, was jointly commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival and the New Zealand International Festival for The Scottish Ensemble and Commonwealth Strings, with funding made available from Creative New Zealand. The libretto was written by Paul Horan.
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.
