Commissioned by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Tainui-a tribal waka confederation of New Zealand Maori iwi-for performance at the Sydney Olympic Games Arts Festival, Farr's Te Wairua o te Whenua (The Spirit of the People) involves the participation of eight Tainui men and 13 women who perform kapa haka, waiata and karanga alongside the orchestra. Both visually and musically striking, the work is a discussion of Tainui and Pakeha relationships with the land and with each other, particularly in the aftermath of the land wars of the 19th century.
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.
