Guillermo Chavez, recorder, 1975
File — Box: 4, CD: 373
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
- 1975
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
Eulogio Lujan, age 83, born 1892, in Torreon, NM. Begins at 00:03 and ends at 28:28. 1. Los tres hermanos (fair to poor recording, story about three brothers, one of whom was hunchback, one with big elephant ears, and the third with one eye on his forehead, last one killed a man, deformed, crime); 2. Un Mexicano (poor recording, a man had an oil shop, aceitero, man singing at the mechanic shop, part of story is inadudible); 3. Cuento de Franke y Juana (poor recording, story about a rich man with a rich neighbor, both had servents, both children were adopted by rich families, grew up, were neighbors, got married, plan a trick, lied about each other dying to get money from rich parents, death, muerte, crime, deceit, family, discipline); 4. El Tejano, el Americano y el Mexicano (fair recording, story about three ranchers from different nationalities, Texan sells his harvest and buys a car, they all do well, upon their death, all three going to heaven, they tricked and payed off St. Peter, San Pedro to get in, two of them return to earth, but the Mexican stays in heaven with the chavelas, pretty girls, Texas, Anglo American, Mexico); 5. Cuento, anecdote (fair recording, story about a man who had a wife and child and he decides to leave, va a buscar a la vida, man seeking fortune, helped by God who gave him money, he could still not appreciate his life, faith, family, religion, marriage); 6. Cuentos (fair recording, two short stories, first portion is inaudible, second story, about Frank Holden and San Pedro, requests entry to heaven, la gloria, California, Old Town, anecdote about how St. Peter, San Pedro not let men into heaven, because they were riding on horseback. Cobos notes in folder).
Antonio Baldonado, born 1907, age 68, born in Cuervo, NM, lives in Torreon, NM, near Santa Rosa. Begins at 28:23 and ends at 31:25. Pedro de Urdemalas (poor recording, Pedro borrows clothing from a priest, dresses like a priest, tries to say mass, found out, sacerdote does not arrive, mass, Catholic Church, religion).
Guillermo B. Chavez, born in Torreon, NM. Begins at 31:33 and ends at 35:45. La Zorilla (fair recording, about a mother fox expecting a baby, meets a lion, befriends him, he becomes the godfather of baby fox, padrino, the lion teaches fox to hunt for food, molotudas).
Eulogio Lujan, born 1892, Torreon, NM. Begins at 35:58 and ends at 45:42. Relato (poor recording, story about a Navajo man singing a song, St. John's Day, 1915, Dia de San Juan, nearly inaudible, el puente de San Juan, Native American man).
Frank Chavez, age 67, born 1908 in Torreon, NM. Lives in Albuquerque. Begins at 45:45 and ends at 56:56. The Old Couple (fair recording, about an older couple who was very poor and hungry, a stranger man stopped at their house, he gave them a magic burrito that gave them anything they wanted, if they said, componte burrito, legend, the stranger told them not to be greedy and ask for more money than they needed, later the neighbors noticed that the old couple had come into money and confronted them, the old couple let their neighbors borrow their magic burrito and they abused it, the burrito did not give any more money, the stranger man returned and gave them palos, sticks, told them to say componte palitos as did with the burro, he told them to keep it secret but they did not, repeat).
Antonio Baldonado, born 1907, age 68, born in Cuervo, NM, lives in Torreon, NM, near Santa Rosa. Begins at 28:23 and ends at 31:25. Pedro de Urdemalas (poor recording, Pedro borrows clothing from a priest, dresses like a priest, tries to say mass, found out, sacerdote does not arrive, mass, Catholic Church, religion).
Guillermo B. Chavez, born in Torreon, NM. Begins at 31:33 and ends at 35:45. La Zorilla (fair recording, about a mother fox expecting a baby, meets a lion, befriends him, he becomes the godfather of baby fox, padrino, the lion teaches fox to hunt for food, molotudas).
Eulogio Lujan, born 1892, Torreon, NM. Begins at 35:58 and ends at 45:42. Relato (poor recording, story about a Navajo man singing a song, St. John's Day, 1915, Dia de San Juan, nearly inaudible, el puente de San Juan, Native American man).
Frank Chavez, age 67, born 1908 in Torreon, NM. Lives in Albuquerque. Begins at 45:45 and ends at 56:56. The Old Couple (fair recording, about an older couple who was very poor and hungry, a stranger man stopped at their house, he gave them a magic burrito that gave them anything they wanted, if they said, componte burrito, legend, the stranger told them not to be greedy and ask for more money than they needed, later the neighbors noticed that the old couple had come into money and confronted them, the old couple let their neighbors borrow their magic burrito and they abused it, the burrito did not give any more money, the stranger man returned and gave them palos, sticks, told them to say componte palitos as did with the burro, he told them to keep it secret but they did not, repeat).
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
cswrref@unm.edu
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
cswrref@unm.edu