An album of compositions composed for The First Smile will be released on 18 December 2024 by Rattle Records. The First Smile is the gamelan brought to Aotearoa 50 years ago by Allan Thomas from Cirebon in West Java. It was the foundation of the gamelan community in Wellington, underpinning the later development of Central Javanese and Balinese gamelan as Gamelan Wellington.
This beautifully performed, recorded and presented album testifies to the vision and legacy of Allan Thomas and the commitment his partner Jennifer Shennan and members of The First Smile to keeping the flame alive.
The album features works by Anton Killin, Lou Harrison, David Farquhar, Chris Francis, Alison Isadora, and Gerard Crewdson. Also featured are two traditional compositions (Sinjang Kirut , or ‘crumpled sarong’, and Kasturun, traditionally used as accompaniment to female court dancers).
Recorded and mixed by Warwick Donald
Mastered by Thomas Arbor
Design by UnkleFranc
Printed by Studio Q
Founding director: Dr Allan Thomas
Patron: Dr Joko Susilo
Players: Gerard Crewdson, Chris Francis, Rosalind Jiko, Helen Lowe, Hui Luo, Barbara Lyon, Keith McEwing, Jennifer Shennan
This project was made possible with generous support from the Lilburn Trust, without whom the recording would not have been possible.
The First Smile respectfully acknowledges Allan Thomas, Jack Body, Paramita Abdurachman, Yusuf Dendabrata, Richard North, Jonathan Engel at SOUNZ, Daniel Beban, John Casey, UnkleFranc Design, and Steve Garden at Rattle Records.