Plena-March Fantasy

Inspired by those great and virtuoso melodies performed and recorded by 19th - 20th century trombonist Arthur Pryor, composer William Pagan-Perez wrote Plena-March Fantasy. Plena-March Fantasy, for Concert Band, features the trombone as a soloist, combining the march's traditional music for the band with the Plena rhythms, and quoting a 1912- Hymn by James Rowe and Howard E. Smith. The piece has a single movement. It starts with a symphonic introduction for the band and continues with a sonata form. The trombone solo starts with the first theme group of melodies. The second theme group of melodies has the Rowe and Smith Hymn quote. The trombone solo navigates between melodic lines and some virtuosos runs. But... What Plena is? Plena is a music genre or style developed at the beginning of the 20th century in the City of Ponce (Puerto Rico). Usually, its rhythms are performed with hand drums called Panderos. Composer Pagan-Perez substituted the Panderos with Conga Drums. Conga Drums are easy to find and to perform with a single percussionist. The composer hopes that the listener enjoys this piece by dancing to the tropical beat.