Ngā Kete E Toru, for piano trio and taonga pūoro, is a programmatic work co-written by Gareth Farr and Richard Nunns and is inspired by Maori mythology and the story of Tāne, also known as Tāne Mahta and Tāne nui a Rangi, the god of forests and birds. The myth tells of Tāne and his ascent to the heavens for acquiring the three baskets of knowledge: Ngā Kete E Toru.
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.
