Farr's Ngā Hihi o Matariki (The Rays of Matariki) is an orchestral work of seven connected movements that incorporate taonga puoro and reo oro. Each movement is named after one of the seven stars (or pairs of stars) of Matariki, a constellation which rises in the mid-winter night skies of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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.
