Farr's Frozen Landscapes exploits the modal nature of the folk harp, with an unusual mode based on D with a key signature of F-sharp and G-sharp. Farr was inspired by Antarctica's snow-capped peaks, huge crevasses, and the more delicate little patterns that appear in the ice formations.
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.
