Ruben Cobos, recorder, 1949-1950
File — Box: 4, CD: 365 B
Scope and Content
From the Collection:
The collection consists of 591 recordings of folk songs, folklore and local histories collected by Ruben Cobos from 1944-1974 in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Also included in the collection are about 270 additional recordings of selected music - a few from New Mexico, many from Mexico and Latin America, and others from Spain, Europe and the U.S. The recordings vary in quality between good, fair, and poor. They contain both musical and spoken content. Most recordings are in Spanish, however, a few are in English. Others are Bilingual or represent the use of Spanglish.
The informants are mainly from New Mexico and Colorado, with a few from California, Texas and Mexico. The collections focuses heavily on spoken Spanish, with examples of poetry, riddles, proverbs, legends, anecdotes, folk tales, mysteries, prayers, nursery rhymes, games, jokes, language use, tricky words, tongue twisters, memories, local history and family history. The Spanish songs include alabados, entriegas for weddings and baptisms, inditas, corridos and ballads, pastores, posadas, love songs, folk dance music, etc. Traditions of Los Juanes and Los Manueles, Penitente morada practices, including women Penitentes, Holy Week songs and activities and the role of the church, santos and fiestas in the lives of the people are also included. There are also several lectures on folklore, music and culture by Cobos and other scholars, including Fray Angelico Chavez, Charles Briggs, Alfonso Ortiz, Arthur Leon Campa, Marta Weigle, Guadalupe Baca Vaughn, Anita Thomas and others. Included also are autobiographical accounts by Ruben Cobos and his wife Elvira.
Songs and stories about and for children, their health and education are included. Although the majority of the information is about Spanish and Hispanic traditions, the collection also provides some materials by and about non-Hispanics and the relationship between the races. A small amount of stories and songs relate to Apaches, Navajos, Pueblos, Mexicanos, African Americans, and Anglos (gringos).
Songs and stories by or about males show them in every walk of life, as rich and poor, old and young, as husbands, widowers, fathers, sons, relatives, compadres, friends, orphans, opponents, collaborators, kings, princes, commoners, giants, ranchers, cowboys, shepherds, farmers, woodcutters, shoemakers, vendors, railroaders, hunters, priests, doctors, teachers, politicians, attorneys, meteorologists, soldiers, witches, simpletons, gamblers, murderers, drunks, adulturers and thieves.
Recordings by and about women add value and perspective to the collection. Females are rich and poor, old and young, girl friends, lovers, adulteresses, wives, widows, mothers, comadres, church attendees, housekeepers for priests, nuns, princesses, queens, teachers, curanderas, cooks and witches. Some of the characters found in the collection are Cinderella, Genoveva de Brabanate, Goldilocks, Delgadina, La Llorona, Doña Cebolla, Dona Fortuna and the Virgin Mary, as well as San Antonio, San Pedro, Bartoldo, Don Cacahuate, Juan Charrasqueado, Pedro and Juan de Urdemalas, Ali Baba, Don Dinero, Tio Botitas and others.
The collection contains descriptions, traditions, local history and songs for New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Mexico. There are references to the Civil War in New Mexico, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Stories tell of superstitions, supernatural, unexplained phenomenon, balls of fire and light, lightening, a comet, the sun, moon, finding treasure, ghosts, devils and magic. Additional topics include traditional food and cooking, health and home remedies. Included also are stories and references to insects, animals, birds, fish and snakes, as well as floods and storms, and automobiles and airplanes.
The informants are mainly from New Mexico and Colorado, with a few from California, Texas and Mexico. The collections focuses heavily on spoken Spanish, with examples of poetry, riddles, proverbs, legends, anecdotes, folk tales, mysteries, prayers, nursery rhymes, games, jokes, language use, tricky words, tongue twisters, memories, local history and family history. The Spanish songs include alabados, entriegas for weddings and baptisms, inditas, corridos and ballads, pastores, posadas, love songs, folk dance music, etc. Traditions of Los Juanes and Los Manueles, Penitente morada practices, including women Penitentes, Holy Week songs and activities and the role of the church, santos and fiestas in the lives of the people are also included. There are also several lectures on folklore, music and culture by Cobos and other scholars, including Fray Angelico Chavez, Charles Briggs, Alfonso Ortiz, Arthur Leon Campa, Marta Weigle, Guadalupe Baca Vaughn, Anita Thomas and others. Included also are autobiographical accounts by Ruben Cobos and his wife Elvira.
Songs and stories about and for children, their health and education are included. Although the majority of the information is about Spanish and Hispanic traditions, the collection also provides some materials by and about non-Hispanics and the relationship between the races. A small amount of stories and songs relate to Apaches, Navajos, Pueblos, Mexicanos, African Americans, and Anglos (gringos).
Songs and stories by or about males show them in every walk of life, as rich and poor, old and young, as husbands, widowers, fathers, sons, relatives, compadres, friends, orphans, opponents, collaborators, kings, princes, commoners, giants, ranchers, cowboys, shepherds, farmers, woodcutters, shoemakers, vendors, railroaders, hunters, priests, doctors, teachers, politicians, attorneys, meteorologists, soldiers, witches, simpletons, gamblers, murderers, drunks, adulturers and thieves.
Recordings by and about women add value and perspective to the collection. Females are rich and poor, old and young, girl friends, lovers, adulteresses, wives, widows, mothers, comadres, church attendees, housekeepers for priests, nuns, princesses, queens, teachers, curanderas, cooks and witches. Some of the characters found in the collection are Cinderella, Genoveva de Brabanate, Goldilocks, Delgadina, La Llorona, Doña Cebolla, Dona Fortuna and the Virgin Mary, as well as San Antonio, San Pedro, Bartoldo, Don Cacahuate, Juan Charrasqueado, Pedro and Juan de Urdemalas, Ali Baba, Don Dinero, Tio Botitas and others.
The collection contains descriptions, traditions, local history and songs for New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Mexico. There are references to the Civil War in New Mexico, the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II. Stories tell of superstitions, supernatural, unexplained phenomenon, balls of fire and light, lightening, a comet, the sun, moon, finding treasure, ghosts, devils and magic. Additional topics include traditional food and cooking, health and home remedies. Included also are stories and references to insects, animals, birds, fish and snakes, as well as floods and storms, and automobiles and airplanes.
Dates
- 1949-1950
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.)
General
CD II of II. Begins at 00:03 and ends at 4:59. Ruben Cobos reads from a notebook of Nestor Abeyta that originally belonged to Mr. Vences Abeyta, of Veguita, New Mexico. Verses, El huerfano (good recording, the orphan boy, children).
Anonymous, born May 18, 1887, age 66, from Sabinal, New Mexico, in Valencia County. Begins at 5:00 and ends at 9:48. Song, La huerfanita (fair recording, singing, orphan, women, girl).
Jose D. Moya, Jose de Moya, Canjilon, NM. Begins at 9:52 and ends at 14:40. 1. Lo mismo es perro que pobre (decima, good recording, singing, verses, dog is outside); 2. Corrido de Antonio Maestas (good recording, song, July 5, 1883, battle, singing, Magote, Colorado).
Agustina Hernandez, born August 26, 1910, Mexico City, age 40. Begins at 14:42 and ends at 17:26. Indita (good recording, song, guitar, La indita otomi, mexicana, Mexico, women).
Adolfo Silva. Begins at 17:34 and ends at 18:16. Don Simon (good recording, singing, coplas y cancion).
Mrs. Nick Montano, Tome, NM and Felicitas Montano. November 5, 1949. Begins at 18:30 and ends at 32:42. 1. La Ricarda (good recording, short song, singing); 2. La Chaparrosa (good recording, singing); 3. Melodias de las canciones del cuaderno del Padre Ralliere (songs from the notebook of Father Ralliere, Tome, New Mexico, good recording, numerous songs, introduced by Dr. Cobos, song about the American flag, Yo soy puro mexicano, Mexico, Yo ride una flor hermosa, Los solteritos de ahora, Cruz Chavez, El cura no va a la iglesia, Corrido de Jose Lizorio, alabado, La palma, La Lupita, La rana se sale a pasear, local song, Los soldados de Chihuahua, Marchemos mexicanos, Mexico, La Severiana, el atole and el cafe, La Americana y la Mexicana, Mexico, El gato y el raton, Las Letanias pinenas, Corrido de Jesus Candelaria, Corrido de Jesus Maria Campos, consejos de una vieja, dijo una vez un rey sincero, Amar y amar y mas amar. Cobos note states, Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla and Mrs. Montano are sisters).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla. Begins at 32:45 and ends at 33:16. Song, La embarcacion (good recording, singing, love song, romance, heartbreak, man leaved his girl, the departure by sea).
Mrs. Nick Montano, Tome, NM. Felicitas Montano. Begins at 33:26 and ends at 35:42. Songs from Father Ralliere's notebook (fair recording, singing, La embarcacion, La cubanita, La Lupita, Te adoro con el alma, Que contar del pajarillo, Eres palomita pinta. Similar material on CD 395).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Accompanied by Mrs. Nick Montano. Begins at 35:44 and ends at 39:58. 1. Triguena hermosa (fair recording, singing); 2. Suspiros de la alma (good to fair recording, song, singing); 3. El solterito de Mexico (good recording, the bachelor, sings two variations).
Anonymous, born May 18, 1887, age 66, from Sabinal, New Mexico, in Valencia County. Begins at 5:00 and ends at 9:48. Song, La huerfanita (fair recording, singing, orphan, women, girl).
Jose D. Moya, Jose de Moya, Canjilon, NM. Begins at 9:52 and ends at 14:40. 1. Lo mismo es perro que pobre (decima, good recording, singing, verses, dog is outside); 2. Corrido de Antonio Maestas (good recording, song, July 5, 1883, battle, singing, Magote, Colorado).
Agustina Hernandez, born August 26, 1910, Mexico City, age 40. Begins at 14:42 and ends at 17:26. Indita (good recording, song, guitar, La indita otomi, mexicana, Mexico, women).
Adolfo Silva. Begins at 17:34 and ends at 18:16. Don Simon (good recording, singing, coplas y cancion).
Mrs. Nick Montano, Tome, NM and Felicitas Montano. November 5, 1949. Begins at 18:30 and ends at 32:42. 1. La Ricarda (good recording, short song, singing); 2. La Chaparrosa (good recording, singing); 3. Melodias de las canciones del cuaderno del Padre Ralliere (songs from the notebook of Father Ralliere, Tome, New Mexico, good recording, numerous songs, introduced by Dr. Cobos, song about the American flag, Yo soy puro mexicano, Mexico, Yo ride una flor hermosa, Los solteritos de ahora, Cruz Chavez, El cura no va a la iglesia, Corrido de Jose Lizorio, alabado, La palma, La Lupita, La rana se sale a pasear, local song, Los soldados de Chihuahua, Marchemos mexicanos, Mexico, La Severiana, el atole and el cafe, La Americana y la Mexicana, Mexico, El gato y el raton, Las Letanias pinenas, Corrido de Jesus Candelaria, Corrido de Jesus Maria Campos, consejos de una vieja, dijo una vez un rey sincero, Amar y amar y mas amar. Cobos note states, Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla and Mrs. Montano are sisters).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla. Begins at 32:45 and ends at 33:16. Song, La embarcacion (good recording, singing, love song, romance, heartbreak, man leaved his girl, the departure by sea).
Mrs. Nick Montano, Tome, NM. Felicitas Montano. Begins at 33:26 and ends at 35:42. Songs from Father Ralliere's notebook (fair recording, singing, La embarcacion, La cubanita, La Lupita, Te adoro con el alma, Que contar del pajarillo, Eres palomita pinta. Similar material on CD 395).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Accompanied by Mrs. Nick Montano. Begins at 35:44 and ends at 39:58. 1. Triguena hermosa (fair recording, singing); 2. Suspiros de la alma (good to fair recording, song, singing); 3. El solterito de Mexico (good recording, the bachelor, sings two variations).
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