Tahu-nui-ā-Rangi is the Māori word for the Aurora Australis, visible from the southernmost parts of New Zealand. The work is based on some Māori Iwi's belief that the aurorae are ancestors' campfires reflected in the sky, emphasising universal belonging and spiritual connection.
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.
