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Los Gigantes de la Plena Concert, 2018

Date2018 April 25

Mediumborn digital video

DimensionsDuration: 4 Minutes, 16 Seconds

ClassificationsGraphics

Credit LineConnecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program collections

CopyrightIn Copyright

Object number2015.196.327

DescriptionVideo of a musical performance by Los Gigantes de la Plena at Arts Day in New Haven on April 25, 2018.

NotesBiographical Note: Los Gigantes de la Plena is a performing group specializing in the Puerto Rican tradition of plena. The group consists of several members from Greater Hartford and the Springfield, Massachusetts area including Nelson Pipo Milano, Freddy Rivera, and Xeimy Burgos, among others. Los Gigantes is based in Springfield and is directed by Freddie Angulo. They perform at many Puerto Rican events, such as The Abolition of Slavery celebration in Springfield, the New Britain Puerto Rican Festival, the Festival del Coqui in Hartford, and other community events. Los Gigantes has performed with Roberto Cepeda and Gloria Lopez of Bomba Ashe on several occasions and can be seen in their performances included in the CCHAP archive. Los Gigantes also performed at Arts Day in New Haven (2015.196.327.1) on April 25, 2018. They sometimes include bomba music and dance, and masked vejigantes dancers in their performances. They produced a CD called “Cultura y Tradicion” and stream on YouTube and other music sites.

Subject Note: Plena functions as a “sung newspaper” for the people who moved increasingly into cities on the island after the end of slavery. There they connected with local rural residents called jibaros, as well as with Taino descendants, creating a mix of cultural influences that is reflected in the sounds and narrative lyrics of plena. Instruments are primarily the three sizes of the pandereta, a hand-held drum, and the guiro, a serrated gourd that is scraped to produce a soft background rhythm. Both bomba and plena have found new life, great popularity, and skilled practitioners in mainland Puerto Rican communities. Plena musicians can be identified by their white panama hats.

Additional materials exist in the CCHAP archive for this group.

Cataloging Note: This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services MA-245929-OMS-20.

Status

Not on view