Ruben Cobos, recorder, 1973
File — Box: 2, CD: 220
Scope and Contents
Edwin Berry, b. 1915, Tome, NM. (Good to fair recording). (Cobos notes in folder). Songs and comments. 1. Juegos de los pastores (counting game of shepherds, children, Berry's grandparents had 3,000 to 4,000 sheep, during game one had to paint little lines on floor, on beat of the song while singing it, song says, one and one and two are three, count, count and count twenty three. If at end of song player had twenty three lines they won, if not they lost. Second game is played same, is about a mother and daughter that go to Mass. Shepherds would place bets on game, would often bet their most significant tool, their knife. There must be 30 people here in the room listening and enjoying, and asking questions); 2. Las Pastorelas (La Pastorela, Christmas play, Navidad, comments on theater plays, different in different places, in Bernalillo is performed by Matachines, Salvador Herrera large, good, bearded, white man played main character, dressed in chaps; in Las Cruces it is more sophisticated; in Albuquerque they don't know it very well. In Tome the manuscript was lost but some of it is known. In Mexico its very different, they are more decorative, dramatic. In Tome it was done more simply, plain dress, there were two performances, a small and a large one; small one included lullabies sung by Francisco Gonzales from Chilili, New Mexico, in 1923, who had many grandchildren at time, he and his wife good, attentive people); 3. El santo que sudaba (The Saint that Sweat, Jesus Nazareno de Tome, figurine or statue of Christ, sad face, near end of World War I, Tome woman predicted war would end, and statue began to sweat, smelled good, five days later war ended. Statue also began to sweat before World War II. It was later taken to the museum in jail of Tome by the priest. Priest had at least 100 horses, he would regularly trim their manes and tails. On Holy Thursday, Holy week, Semana Santa, Don Manuel Antonio Otero gave a sermon that people paid $12 to hear); 4. Conversacion (about crucifix of Antonio Silva, a Penitente crucifix with sharp rock, Silva's paintings, one of Virgin Mary that looked just like La Reina Isabel la Catolica, Spain, one of San Juan Bautista is most beautiful in all the world, presented as tall man with a lamb, his face similar to Jesus Christ); 5. Conversacion (when Tome established, church received much land, much went to Father Jean Baptise Ralliere, who brought more land to give to his people. He also raised an African American Black boy named Estevan Raer?, son of deceased soldier of the Civil War, New Mexico); 6. Cancion de cuna, El Terengue (lullaby, was previously sung by Don Francisco Gonzales de Chilili, accompanied with Indian drum, Maidens dance around bells in the sky, on horns of moon fairies jump and children play, for the moon I have a $1, for the sun a .50 cent piece, for the eyes of my baby, my life and heart); 7. Muerte de Solomon Luna, Los Lunas (death, comments, Luna had a lot of land, raised sheep, he and others proposed a new Constitution for New Mexico. He went missing, searched for him, found him dead in pool of the lambs, sheep dip, buried him in Los Lunas near San Clemente Church, burial, crime); 8. Muerte de Sofia Jaramillo Maxwell (beautiful girl murdered by a jealous lover (see CD 91) she denies him marriage with calabazas, wants to finish college, boyfriend is not convicted. Second story. Romero's death, Howard Bryan published story on front page of the Albuquerque Tribune, he receives story from Salazar. Romero is found dead in river right after murder of Sofia. Sofia's aunt Dona Aurora Mier is also killed by a mysterious gunshot, crime. Soon after, boyfriend is married in church by Father Ralliere to a fearful bride? Sofia is buried in the same cemetery of Solomon Luna. Cobos and visitors thank and applause Sandoval); 9. Conversacion (Sandoval describes how he is criticized by people of town for working even when he had malaria, health, but people do appreciate me, I'm happy to be here. He invites all to Tome, to see old saint images, santos, which are 57 years older than the Constitution of the United States, says goodbye, rhyme); 10. El maestro Ruben Cobos (Cobos mentions his respect for high school teacher in Los Lunas, who played guitar well. Mentions his tambor, drum made in Cochiti); 11. Indita del Rio Grande 1884 (flood story, good recording, composed by his great grandfather, Manuel Vigil Lelito, first English speaker in town, was cook on Santa Fe Trail, learned English in St. Louis, gave his horses Anglo names, he composed this song in 1884, year of flood in Tome, the break of Rio Grande River, people fled to Tome Hill, called the news, Father Ralliere hoped church does not fall, don't be ungrateful, makes fun of Don Jesus Baca. Sandoval goes on to explain lyrics, and belief behind the church); 12. El Padre Jean Baptiste Ralliere, Tome, New Mexico (Father Ralliere arrived in Tome June 13, 1858, died in 1915, first superintendent of schools of Valencia County, resigned, created a school in Tome, no longer stands, taught blacksmithing, carpentry and religion as well as regular curriculum. Father practiced agriculture, had a band, played many instruments, collected alabados, folklore, notebooks); 13. Hay una fuente carmesi (good recording, Anglo American song adopted by Father Ralliere. Jesus Christ opened a fountain and died on cross for me and I became clean); 14. America, My Country Tis of Thee, Anglo American song (adaptation by Father Ralliere. U.S.A, is a noble country, homeland of my fathers, free country of pilgrim, God of freedom I ask that the land live); 15. Las cruces del Cerro de Tome (Paul Wilson, journalist, takes a photo of crosses of Tome Hill which were shot at, rifle, crosses are dark but light shines through one bullet hole, illustrates birth star of Belen, Belehem. Tradition is first cross put up by the Penitentes of Vargas 1693, other crosses added, disappeared, reappeared. Cobos note on Tia Aurora Mier).
Dates
- 1973
Language of Materials
From the Collection:
English, Spanish
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 boxes (12.25 cu. ft.)
Creator
- From the Collection: Cobos, Rubén (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451