Originally commissioned by the University of Waikato in celebration of the opening of the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts, in its first incarnation the Triple Concerto was a single-movement work of "overture" scope and duration. It was composed for the Turnovsky Trio, who were to be Artists-in-Residence at the Academy. In 2005, Farr received a commission from the New Zealand Trio to expand the concerto into a full-length work.