Comments on: The First Smile – 50 years of Gamelan in Aotearoa New Zealand – a celebration! https://middle-c.org/2025/06/18883/ Classical Music Reviews, Wellington, New Zealand Sat, 21 Jun 2025 21:51:48 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 By: DANIEL POYNTON https://middle-c.org/2025/06/18883/comment-page-1/#comment-825346 Sat, 21 Jun 2025 21:51:48 +0000 https://middle-c.org/?p=18883#comment-825346 In reply to Jennifer Shennan.

And a big thanks to you too, Jennifer – let us not forget (though I know you’ll hate me for saying it). A very rich experience for me writing this piece – so many feelings and thoughts are inspired…………so many great characters still with us………and gone………..

]]> By: Jennifer Shennan https://middle-c.org/2025/06/18883/comment-page-1/#comment-822082 Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:26:00 +0000 https://middle-c.org/?p=18883#comment-822082 Dan — thank you for this review of depth and detail. The First Smile players are all happy that you found so much to celebrate in the album. We remain indebted to the composers over the decades — to Steve Garden for inviting us onto the illustrious list at Rattle — to the Lilburn Trust for their support — to Peter Mechen for so industriously maintaining the website — and to the original master players and instrument makers in Cirebon who trusted Allan to give their ensemble a new home.

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