Dark, mysterious and edgy, Farr's Te Tai-O-Rehua was commissioned by the Goldner Quartet and Chamber Music New Zealand and is a testament to the sibling relationship between Australia and New Zealand. The work uses an unusual scale built out of minor thirds and minor seconds, which contributes to the dark mood of the piece, while its melodies are rhythmically constructed, with irregular phrase lengths that keep it unpredictable.
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.
