congaplace.com

Well, it's official: after months of holding off, I finally broke down and got a set of pleneras / panderetas / panderos de plena (I actually got a decent deal on eBay, a set that includes the carrying case and $4 off w/ebay bucks lol). I can't wait to learn to play them, break out the cuatro and guitar and start writing some jams! lol

But at the same time, I have never played them and I'd appreciate any info. from those of you out there who play them. I know the rhythm well (I've played it a lot on congas) butI understand that each part is different; that each pandereta does something different and the rhythms interlock like in salsa.

Thanks in advance,
Miguel

Nice, congratulations!...i look foward on getting my first set of pleneras and start a parranda familiar, con amigos..or on Christmas
Many Christian Pentacostal songs have the same beat of plena music, and its coro singing has been getting lost with new modern songs, and modern instruments like electric guitar, and bass living the pleneras out of this old Plena tradition.

Can you pleas post pictures of your pleneras, did you get a Don Pablo, pleneras in red color? are they plastic or wood?..i want a set, thers a few that make the traditional ones, in P.R like the family memebers of Ismael, Timbas del valle, and Charlie vergara, J.C.R use to make some too i wonder if they still make them.

This video of Pleneros de la 21, is really helpfull, grupo Viento De Agua has a great cd...if you know any collages that want to promote Bomba, and Plena music, Los Pleneros de la 21 are great for that, help them get gigs in collages as they do work shops, of music, through out different collages, and such a rich experience to see them live.

This vids are good;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51Ddqkr8pkE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjMT185R ... ure=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE7b50Zn ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw-wtp8hJa0&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH5Wd3sb ... re=related
CORO EN PR CRISTIANO; I like this coros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRPfIsm ... ature=fvwp

¡Qué bendición! Man that's a nice vid!

It's funny you mentioned Christian music, because that's exactly what I do. I write & record my own stuff (mostly salsa/merengue but when I got the cuatro I shifted gears a bit). I hope to do some plenas (mostly coritos but also some original stuff) once I know what I'm doing w/the panderetas (lol). It was also nice to hear how the guitarist plays in plena (which to me sounds a lot like the way to play agunaldos lol).

To answer your question about the make and model, yes they are red Don Pablo brand pleneras. I'm not sure if they are wood or plastic, but I'm really looking forward to finding out! (If you want a picture go to http://cgi.ebay.com/PLENERA-TRIO-SET-PL ... 3f0997d153).

Anyway, thanks again for the videos. I don't know of any colleges that have plena/bomba oriented programs but I'll keep that in mind.

Dios bendiga,
Miguel

Bendiciones!!! Bro, que todo este bien contigo..
i hope the first videoshelpedyou,thats the same set of pleneras i am thinking about buying.
I was referring to your local communitycollage,if you or any one could help Los Pleneros de la 21 get in your local collage, because they do workshops, if you could ask thelatinclubs about the music, and of any possibleconcerts.
Bendiciones!

Thanks man, that first video was excellent, and also the one where the guy showed teh close-up on the requinto and showed the different golpes (ways to hit the drum).

Anyway, in my area there aren't many people who know much about plena, but if it ever comes up I'll be glad to mention it.

Dios bendiga,
Miguel

PS - If you want to hear some good Christian plenas look up "los pleneros de la fe" en youtube. Some other good ones on there are los pleneros del fuego, plena sacra, and los pleneritos de Cristo (although theirs is a bit different). There's also this one:

Here are a few of my favorites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-u71MmYIvQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nObKQ7jFp1s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWOnZbv4JYs