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Una Plena
Plena is a community tradition. Known as a “singing newspaper”, it tells a story, and traditionally brought news between the towns and cities of Puerto Rico. Everyone joins in the singing, dancing and playing.
Ten Stringed Cuatro
The Puerto Rican cuatro is unofficially known as the national instrument of Puerto Rico. It is used to play the traditional jíbaro music of the mountains of Puerto Rico.
Raícitas Bomba Class
Participants in the Raícitas Youth Program learn the music, dance, song and history of the Caribbean folkloric traditions. The student is practicing bomba, an Afro-puertorican folkloric tradition. In bomba, the dancer and the drummer converse, with…
Raíces Roots Music Oral History Interview: José Gabriel Muñoz - Cuatrista
Oral history interview with cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz. Download the full oral history interview transcript here (PDF)
Raíces Rehearsal
Raíces students often rehearse and perform with the core of the Raíces Ensemble. Practicing voices for a full chorus in the Spring of 2010.
Plena at the Brooklyn Puerto Rican Day Parade
In June of 2009, Raíces Cultural Center Ensemble members were invited to participate in the Brooklyn Puerto Rican Day Parade, drumming, singing and dancing plena. Plena is a musical tradition that evolved on the island of Puerto Rico. Plena is…
Playing Cuatro
José Gabriel Muñoz gave the Raíces Digital Archive crew a short private concert after his oral history interview.
Oral History with José Gabriel Muñoz - Cuatrista
On October 20, 2019, Raíces Cultural Center had the honor of conducting an oral history interview with cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz. Download a PDF of the full oral history interview transcript here: José Gabriel Muñoz Interview Transcript
Los Vejigantes de Puerto Rico Residency: Dancing with los Vejigantes
Los Vejigantes de Puerto Rico Residency: Dancing with los Vejigantes
Los Vejigantes de Puerto Rico Residency: Dancing Plena at Paul Robeson School
Raíces Cultural Center Ensemble performed bomba and plena and presented about the tradition of Los Vejigantes de Puerto Rico, an Afropuertorican folkloric tradition. After the interactive performance, participants had the opportunity to dance and…
Los Vejigantes de Puerto Rico Residency: Dancing Plena
Students learning plena dance steps with los vejigantes de Puerto Rico during an interactive performance and presentation at Paul Robeson Community Theme School for the Arts.
José Muñoz y Yomo Toro
José Gabriel Muñoz with Yomo Toro in the mid 90s.
José Gabriel Muñoz: Tapia Theater Performance
José Gabriel Muñoz performing at the Tapia Theater in San Juan, PR for the movie premiere of “Raúl Juliá: The World’s a Stage”.
José Gabriel Muñoz: Library of Congress Oral History Interview
Oral history interview at the Library of Congress.
José Gabriel Muñoz: Kennedy Center Concert
José Gabriel Muñoz performing at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
In the Batey de los Ayalas
Damaged structure in the yard of the Ayala home in Loíza Aldea, Puerto Rico. These cutouts of bomber dancers remained undamaged by the storm. This is the yard where the bombazos take place during the Fiestas de Santiago Apostol each July.
Goat Yang
An exploration and representation of a Chinese creation myth from the folklore of the artist’s family’s home region in South East China. This digital painting was created as part of a Raíces Branch of Community History digital exhibit.
Gabriel Muñoz’s First Cuatro
The first cuatro of José Gabriel Muñoz
Gabriel Muñoz & Melodías Borinqueñas
Gabriel Muñoz & Melodías Borinqueñas performing at Rutgers University in 2018.
Gabe Muñoz
Cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz after his oral history interview with the Raíces Digital Archive.
Excerpt: José Gabriel Muñoz Library of Congress Performance
Excerpt from a performance by cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz at the Library of Congress.
Video Provided by José Gabriel Muñoz
Video Provided by José Gabriel Muñoz
Excerpt: Gabriel Muñoz & Melodías Borinqueñas Concert at Rutgers University 2
Excerpt from concert presented by Gabriel Munoz & Melodías Borinqueñas on April 3, 2019 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. 2/2
Excerpt: Gabriel Muñoz & Melodías Borinqueñas Concert at Rutgers University
Excerpt from concert presented by Gabriel Munoz & Melodías Borinqueñas on April 3, 2019 at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
Excerpt: Classical Music Demonstration on Cuatro
Cuatrista José Gabriel Muñoz demonstrates how the cuatro is interpreted with classical music.An excerpt from Cello Suite No.1 by J.S. Bach interpreted by José Gabriel Muñoz. The Cello Suite was transposed and arranged on the cuatro by Alvin Medina.…
Early Inspirations
Childhood photograph of José Gabriel Muñoz.