Ruben Cobos, recorder, 1958
File — Box: 4, CD: 395 A
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
- 1958
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 I of II. Similar material on CDs 51 and 52. Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM and Mrs. Nick Montano. Begins at 00:03 and ends at 1:43. 1. Bonitos caracolitos (fair recording, song, singing, from a notebook owned by Father Juan B. Ralliere, Tome, New Mexico, 1858-1915); 2. Tu eres la dicha que yo ambiciono (fair recording, song, singing); 3. Preso me llevar a la carcel (fair recording, song, singing).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 1:45 and ends at 2:43. Ultimo adios (fair recording, song of deceased, goodbye to family and friends, muerte, death, velorio, funeral, singing, sad).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 2:46 and ends at 3:40. 1. Vuela, vuela mariposa (fair recording, song, singing, butterfly); 2. Margarita, Margarita (fair recording, song, singing, women).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 3:41 and ends at 12:38. 1. Manana se va tu prieto (fair recording, song about a dark skinned man who is leaving and will not return, moreno, morena, singing, women); 2. La tarde muere sobre la playa (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La verbena (fair recording, song, singing); 4. Recuerdas, oh, mujer (fair recording, song, singing, te recuerdas de cuando te conoci, love song); 5. Elena ven a mis brazos (fair recording, song, singing, love song); 6. Blanca flor (fair recording, song, singing, en el campo naciste); 7. Despierta hermosa (fair recording, song, singing, El trovador, love, women); 8. Soy aldeano (fair recording, song, singing, no soy moro pero tengo corazon, siento la sensacion del amor); 9. En suenos de un jazmin (fair recording, song, singing); 10. Cuando me vaya de aqui (fair recording, song, singing, departing from here, love, heartbreak); 11. Quiero morir mejor (fair recording, song, singing, a prayer to God); 12. La Marcha de Zacatecas (fair recording song, singing); 13. La ausencia (fair recording, song, singing, love, absence from lover).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 12:40 and ends at 14:45. 1. La morena (fair recording, song, singing, sadness, women, love); 2. Preso por una pasion (fair recording, love song, singing); 3. Yo soy un medico de mucha fama (relacion, fair recording, song, singing).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 14:46 and ends at 16:44. 1. Comadre, no se que hacer (decima, fair recording, singing, song about a girl who has too many boyfriends and does not know whom to choose, women, love); 2. Me quiero confesar (fair recording, song, singing, confession of love).
Felicitas Montano, NM. Begins at 16:47 and ends at 18:33. 1. Les contare lo que me paso (fair recording, song about a woman who betrayed the singer, singing, women, love, betrayal); 2. Indita de Miguel (fair recording, song, singing); 3. Los milagros del glorioso San Antonio (fair recording, song, singing, religion, miracles, St. Anthony); 4. Un testamento (fair recording, song, singing, Christianity, religion).
Manuel Perea, age 77, born September 29, from Tome, NM. Begins at 18:36 and ends at 22:12. Indita del Ciquio Lucero (fair recording, song, sings it and then recites the verses).
Francisco Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 22:15 and ends at 34:11. Similar material on CD 52). 1. Gloria a Dios en las alturas (fair recording, singing, religion); 2. El dos de Mayo (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La contra golondrina (fair recording, singing); 4. La paloma blanca, quien tuviera tus alas (fair recording, song, singing); 5. La Lola y el Buque Maine (fair recording, song, Spanish American War, 1898, Battleship Maine, island of Cuba); 6. Himno a Hidalgo (fair recording, song about Padre Miguel Hidalgo, Mexican Revolution, 1810, hymn dedicated to him ); 7. Eres Dolores bella (fair recording, song about a beautiful girl, singing); 8. El cuando de Pecos (fair recording, song, like a decima, corrido del gallo, rooster pull, men riding on on horses, competing again those from Galiseo to get the rooster, singing, Spanish town of Pecos, New Mexico); 9. En una jaula de oro (fair recording, song, singing, romance); 10. El barrio triste (fair recording, song, singing, romance); 11. La creacion del mundo (fair recording, song, decima, singing).
Macario Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 34:12 and ends at 35:50. Decima de la baraja (fair recording, song, singing).
Francisco Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 35:51 and ends at 43:37. 1. La vida del hombre (fair recording, song, singing); 2. La gloria (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La iglesia (fair recording, singing, religious); 4. La patria (fair recording,song, singing); 5. El marino (fair recording, song, singing); 6. El partida militar (fair recording,song, singing, version one, going off to war); 7. La partida militar (fair recording, song, singing, variation, second version); 8. La guerra de Espana (fair recording, el tren va pita y pita, song, singing, battle, Spanish American War 1898); 9. El trovador (fair recording, song, singing); 10. La infelicidad de un amante (fair recording, Spanish American War, 1898, next song is Dona clara, Part I, and cont. on CD II of II).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 1:45 and ends at 2:43. Ultimo adios (fair recording, song of deceased, goodbye to family and friends, muerte, death, velorio, funeral, singing, sad).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 2:46 and ends at 3:40. 1. Vuela, vuela mariposa (fair recording, song, singing, butterfly); 2. Margarita, Margarita (fair recording, song, singing, women).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 3:41 and ends at 12:38. 1. Manana se va tu prieto (fair recording, song about a dark skinned man who is leaving and will not return, moreno, morena, singing, women); 2. La tarde muere sobre la playa (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La verbena (fair recording, song, singing); 4. Recuerdas, oh, mujer (fair recording, song, singing, te recuerdas de cuando te conoci, love song); 5. Elena ven a mis brazos (fair recording, song, singing, love song); 6. Blanca flor (fair recording, song, singing, en el campo naciste); 7. Despierta hermosa (fair recording, song, singing, El trovador, love, women); 8. Soy aldeano (fair recording, song, singing, no soy moro pero tengo corazon, siento la sensacion del amor); 9. En suenos de un jazmin (fair recording, song, singing); 10. Cuando me vaya de aqui (fair recording, song, singing, departing from here, love, heartbreak); 11. Quiero morir mejor (fair recording, song, singing, a prayer to God); 12. La Marcha de Zacatecas (fair recording song, singing); 13. La ausencia (fair recording, song, singing, love, absence from lover).
Felicitas Montano, born 1892, Tome, NM. Begins at 12:40 and ends at 14:45. 1. La morena (fair recording, song, singing, sadness, women, love); 2. Preso por una pasion (fair recording, love song, singing); 3. Yo soy un medico de mucha fama (relacion, fair recording, song, singing).
Mrs. Jose de Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 14:46 and ends at 16:44. 1. Comadre, no se que hacer (decima, fair recording, singing, song about a girl who has too many boyfriends and does not know whom to choose, women, love); 2. Me quiero confesar (fair recording, song, singing, confession of love).
Felicitas Montano, NM. Begins at 16:47 and ends at 18:33. 1. Les contare lo que me paso (fair recording, song about a woman who betrayed the singer, singing, women, love, betrayal); 2. Indita de Miguel (fair recording, song, singing); 3. Los milagros del glorioso San Antonio (fair recording, song, singing, religion, miracles, St. Anthony); 4. Un testamento (fair recording, song, singing, Christianity, religion).
Manuel Perea, age 77, born September 29, from Tome, NM. Begins at 18:36 and ends at 22:12. Indita del Ciquio Lucero (fair recording, song, sings it and then recites the verses).
Francisco Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 22:15 and ends at 34:11. Similar material on CD 52). 1. Gloria a Dios en las alturas (fair recording, singing, religion); 2. El dos de Mayo (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La contra golondrina (fair recording, singing); 4. La paloma blanca, quien tuviera tus alas (fair recording, song, singing); 5. La Lola y el Buque Maine (fair recording, song, Spanish American War, 1898, Battleship Maine, island of Cuba); 6. Himno a Hidalgo (fair recording, song about Padre Miguel Hidalgo, Mexican Revolution, 1810, hymn dedicated to him ); 7. Eres Dolores bella (fair recording, song about a beautiful girl, singing); 8. El cuando de Pecos (fair recording, song, like a decima, corrido del gallo, rooster pull, men riding on on horses, competing again those from Galiseo to get the rooster, singing, Spanish town of Pecos, New Mexico); 9. En una jaula de oro (fair recording, song, singing, romance); 10. El barrio triste (fair recording, song, singing, romance); 11. La creacion del mundo (fair recording, song, decima, singing).
Macario Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 34:12 and ends at 35:50. Decima de la baraja (fair recording, song, singing).
Francisco Leyba, Leyba, NM. Begins at 35:51 and ends at 43:37. 1. La vida del hombre (fair recording, song, singing); 2. La gloria (fair recording, song, singing); 3. La iglesia (fair recording, singing, religious); 4. La patria (fair recording,song, singing); 5. El marino (fair recording, song, singing); 6. El partida militar (fair recording,song, singing, version one, going off to war); 7. La partida militar (fair recording, song, singing, variation, second version); 8. La guerra de Espana (fair recording, el tren va pita y pita, song, singing, battle, Spanish American War 1898); 9. El trovador (fair recording, song, singing); 10. La infelicidad de un amante (fair recording, Spanish American War, 1898, next song is Dona clara, Part I, and cont. on CD II of II).
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