Tawhirimatea is the Māori god of the wind. This work, Farr's second for brass band, depicts the power of elemental forces. An unusual feature of the work is the requirement for some of the instrumentalists to also play conch shells - traditionally used as a musical instrument by Māori, played in the same manner as a brass instrument.
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.
