Commissioned by Choirs Aotearoa and Karen Grylls for Voices NZ Chamber Choir, Farr's Harakeke is perfect for choirs wanting to embrace te reo Maori and taonga pūoro (Maori musical instruments). A setting of poems by Maori poet Apirana Taylor, the work includes the koauau (small flute) and the pukaea (wooden trumpet).
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.
