This work brims with exciting rhythms and sounds of the Pacific. It draws inspiration from a variety of influences including the percussion music of Bali and the Cook Islands. In this work Farr brings this influence to a Western percussion ensemble. It includes a colourful array of percussion instruments, including: tom-toms, cymbals, brake drums, bongos, tam-tam, kick drums, tambourine and flower pots. Pukul is a show-stopper that is sure to be a blast for percussion ensembles and audiences.
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.
