An Afro-Puerto Rican rhythm and vocal genre traditionally played with panderetas with lyrics containing humor, satire, and social commentary.
( pley nah) is a rhythm and song form developed in Ponce, Puerto Rico in the mid 19 century. Plena functions as a 'musical newspaper' of the people, giving an opportunity for comment on politics, social events and other topics through the medium of humorous, sometimes nonsensical storysongs. Instruments used include the guiro (gourd scraper), two or more frame drums called panderetta or pandiero (without jingles) guitar, accordion and voices. The rhythm has been adapted to congas and has become part of the standard salsa repertoire. Plena is sung in Spanish.
a musical genre developed in Puerto Rico; see complete description on plena page
A folkloric Puerto Rican style traditionally played on the Panderetas. The lyric content often deals with social or political statements, criticisms, or satire.
A Puerto Rican music and dance form, used as a vehicle for social and political commentary. Traditional plenas include the pandereta, a tambourine–like frame drum without the jangles. Normally played in 4/4 time, and has no clave.
An Afro-Puerto Rican rhythm, traditionally played on panderetas, which is an important form of popular music. The plena often serves as a vehicle for the expression of social and politically relevant themes.
An Afro-Puerto Rican urban topical song form said to have been developed in Ponce during World War 1. The plena has four or six-line verses, with a refrain. Lyrical content is social comment, satire, or humor. Instrumentation has ranged from percussion through accordion or guitar-led groups to various dance band formats. Its most famous composer and exponent was Manual Jiménez, known as Canario. It has been a minor influence on salsa through the work of Rafael Cortijo in the late 1950s and Willie Colon in the 1970s.
Percussion and song form of Puerto Rico using frame drums and improvised lyrics of social and political commentary. Also known as the "sung newspaper."
Plena is a traditional form of Puerto Rican music. It is a blend of African and Spanish influences. The music is related to similar music in Trinidad and Barbados.
