Ruben Cobos, Sylvia Patterson, recorders, 1973, 1975
File — Box: 4, CD: 397 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
- 1973, 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
CD I of II. Cobos, 1975: Vicente Archuleta, born 1904, Ojo Caliente, NM. Begins at 00:02 and ends at 26:08. 1. Personal information (poor recording, inaudible); 2. Conversation (poor recording, inaudible); 3. La Llorona (poor recording, inaudible); 4. Dicho; 5. Velorio (poor recording, inaudible); 6. Alabado (poor recording, inaudible); 7. Witches (poor recording, inaudible); 8. Remedios (poor recording, inaudible); 9. Fiestas (poor recording, inaudible); 10. Penitentes (poor recording, inaudible); 11. Cuento (poor recording, inaudible); 12. Personal conversation (poor recording, inaudible).
Patterson, 1973: See Patterson similar on CD 17. Lazara Aragon, born and raised in Cuba, NM, age 87, then lived in Albuquerque. CD I of II. Begins at 26:16 and ends at 30:31. Cuentos (fair to poor recording, stories, verses, prayers, almost inaudible).
Patterson, 1973: Luz Leonard, born in Durango, Colorado. Begins at 30:32 and ends at 31:08. Pray (poor recording, verses, religion).
Patterson, 1973: Liradita Herrera, born and raised in Cuba, NM, age 86. Begins at 31:09 ends at 32:47. Prayer (fair recording, verses, religion).
Patterson, 1973: Mr. Peralta, age 96, from Las Nutrias, NM. Begins at 32:48 and ends at 34:10. Conversation (poor recording, inaudible).
Patterson, 1973: Benny Valles, born 1921, age 49, from Veguita, NM. Begins at 31:11 and ends at 56:04. Personal information (poor recording); 2. Cuento (fair to poor recording, a story about three sons, one of the sons tells the parents that he wants to go out and make a living, mother offers him a torta de pan or a blessing before he leaves, sings a few verses, king, royalty, older brothers murdered the younger brother, tried to bury him but out came a flower on the grave that sings about his death, crime, murder, muerte, family. Valles cont. on CD II of II.
Patterson, 1973: See Patterson similar on CD 17. Lazara Aragon, born and raised in Cuba, NM, age 87, then lived in Albuquerque. CD I of II. Begins at 26:16 and ends at 30:31. Cuentos (fair to poor recording, stories, verses, prayers, almost inaudible).
Patterson, 1973: Luz Leonard, born in Durango, Colorado. Begins at 30:32 and ends at 31:08. Pray (poor recording, verses, religion).
Patterson, 1973: Liradita Herrera, born and raised in Cuba, NM, age 86. Begins at 31:09 ends at 32:47. Prayer (fair recording, verses, religion).
Patterson, 1973: Mr. Peralta, age 96, from Las Nutrias, NM. Begins at 32:48 and ends at 34:10. Conversation (poor recording, inaudible).
Patterson, 1973: Benny Valles, born 1921, age 49, from Veguita, NM. Begins at 31:11 and ends at 56:04. Personal information (poor recording); 2. Cuento (fair to poor recording, a story about three sons, one of the sons tells the parents that he wants to go out and make a living, mother offers him a torta de pan or a blessing before he leaves, sings a few verses, king, royalty, older brothers murdered the younger brother, tried to bury him but out came a flower on the grave that sings about his death, crime, murder, muerte, family. Valles 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