Video
"Carmelina" by Los Pleneros de la 21 in Tribute to Marcial Reyes Arvelo at 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Los Pleneros de la 21 perform "Carmelina," a traditional
plena in tribute to the great
plenero Marcial Reyes Arvelo, a founding member of the group and author of the piece. Jose Rivera, in his singing, places himself firmly in the classic school of the
plena, referencing
pleneros who influenced his musical upbringing. By including this version with
panderetas (different sized circular frame drums), and a
güiro (gourd rasp) Los Pleneros de la 21 give the listener the opportunity to taste the fresh, simple, and wonderful flavors or the traditional creole plena.