David Corkhill, Music Teacher, April 2005

In the fast-growing world of percussion music (who would have thought, 15 years ago pre-Glennie, monthly reviews would appear?) publishers continually seek more eye-catching formats, and Promethean Editions have done very nicely with their selection of pieces for marimba and vibraphone. Works as difficult as Gareth Farr's Tangaroa need to justify time spent in preparation with a musical reward - and this piece is pleasant-sounding and well structured, the constant running semiquavers (at crotchet=132, this is a technically demanding piece) and harmonic flavours being reminiscent of Debussy's Préludes. Tangaroa is perhaps a little overlong, and although most players will want to play it from memory, it might have been easier to have fold-out pages for easier page turns. Nevertheless, this is an attractive addition to the virtuoso mallet player's repertoire.

Michael Combs, Percussive Notes, August, September 2009

The work opens in 4/4 with quarter note at 132 bpm and with moving sixteenth-note arpeggio patterns predominating. There are a few five-note groupings and, after about 23 measures, the metric changes begin to get very complex, involving meters of 9/16, 11/16, 3/8, 6/16, 7/16 and 7/8. Although the feel of sixteenth notes is primary, the technique of alternating double stops and running arpeggios continue to be the thrust. It is not, however, only the complex rhythms that make this work a particular challenge; the dynamic changes are just as significant, going from pp to fff, and the full range of a 5.0-octave marimba is used.

After the opening, driving material, a middle section provides contrast in both style and technique. This middle section has five smaller sections; the first being a slow, eight-measure chorale calling for independent or one-hand rolls and double-lateral rolls in addition to standard hand-to-hand rolls. The chorale material continues a little faster for an additional 15 measures that move into three more sections - each faster than the previous one. By measure 235, Tempo I is indicated and material similar in style to the opening returns and drives to an exciting and rhythmically complicated conclusion.

Covering 22 pages, it would not be possible to perform this work from one score with all of the page turns. The performer would likely need to memorize the piece for performance. This work is only for an advanced virtuoso player - or a marimbist wishing to become one.

Difficulty Rating Scale Vl - Advanced