Ruben Cobos, recorder, 1949
File — Box: 4, CD: 401 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
- 1949
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
Anonymous musicians. Begins at 00:04 and ends at 2:07 (poor recording, instruments, music, probably Cobos recording from the radio).
Adela Trujillo, Los Jarales, NM. Begins at 2:14 and ends at 4:19. El pescadorcito (fair to poor recording, singing, traditional song from Los Pastores, going to Belen, cuts off abruptly but song continues after momentary silence, Mrs. Trujillo sang from page 32 of her notebook).
Group from Los Jarales, NM. Begins at 4:21 and ends at 5:25. El alba (fair to poor recording, song, chorus, alabanza).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 5:30 and ends at 13:09. 1. Cuando por el oriente, from Los Pastores (poor recording, religious song for Christmas, Navidad, and alabados); 2. Los corderitos, from Los Pastores (poor recording, numerous speakers were recorded over on the same tape, inaudible); 3. Ofrecimiento, para el portal de Belen (poor recording, singing, inaudible).
Ricardo Archuleta, Cerro, NM, near Tome. Begins at 13:15 and ends at 18:37. Alabados (poor recording, Camina Jose and Maria, el nino perdido, songs, alabados, religious, inaudible).
Musical group, anonymous chorus, from Cerro, NM, near Tome. Begins at 18:40 and ends at 22:54. Songs, Las Posadas (poor recording, various songs, Los corderitos, tonada).
Los Bien Aventurados, musical group, from Taos, NM. Begins at 22:55 and ends at 25:25. Coplas (poor recording, Cobos introduces the group as Los Bienaventurados, violin, banjo, performance, cancion comica).
Adolfo Castillo, Alameda, NM. Begins at 25:29 and ends at 61:20. 1. Alabados (poor recording, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Penitentes, El primer hombre del mundo); 2. Alabado, Nos dio su cuerpo el Senor (poor recording); 3. Alabado, Estaba orado en el huerto (poor recording, huerta, Nuestro Senor de Esquipula, Chimayo); 4. Alabado, Vamos buscando el camino (poor recording); 5. Alabado, La Guadalupana (poor recording, Virgen coronada, Virgin Mary); 6. Alabado, Ay de los tristes gemidos (poor recording); 7. Alabado, A tu santuario bendito (poor recording); 8. Alabado, Contemplemos todos (poor recording); 9. Alabado, Ayuda (poor recording, almas queridas); 10. Song, Padre Jesus Nazareno (poor recording, singing); 11. Song, Bendice Senor la cena (poor recording, singing); 12. Song, Catolico fiel cristiano (poor recording, singing, Las doce verdades del mundo); 13. Song, Madre de dolores (poor recording, singing, madre de tormentos, Virgin Mary); 14. Song, Ven pecador y veras (poor recording, singing); 15. Song, Estaba junto al madero de la cruz la dolorosa (poor recording); 16. Song, Jesucristo me acompane y el angel de nuestra guarda (poor recording); 17. Song, Un siervo del Santo Nino (poor recording, Child Jesus); 18. Song, Venid pecadores (poor recording); 19. Song, Venid, pecadores, variation; 20. Song, San Ignacio de Loyola (poor recording); 21. Song, Por la orilla de un arroyo (poor recording); 22. Song, El miercoles de ceniza (poor recording, singing, Ash Wednesday); 23. Song, Adios (poor recording, singing, acompanamiento, goodbye song of deceased, death, muerte, funeral, at the velorio, here for Jesus). Songs cont. on CD 401 B.
Adela Trujillo, Los Jarales, NM. Begins at 2:14 and ends at 4:19. El pescadorcito (fair to poor recording, singing, traditional song from Los Pastores, going to Belen, cuts off abruptly but song continues after momentary silence, Mrs. Trujillo sang from page 32 of her notebook).
Group from Los Jarales, NM. Begins at 4:21 and ends at 5:25. El alba (fair to poor recording, song, chorus, alabanza).
Mrs. Jose Leon Padilla, Tome, NM. Begins at 5:30 and ends at 13:09. 1. Cuando por el oriente, from Los Pastores (poor recording, religious song for Christmas, Navidad, and alabados); 2. Los corderitos, from Los Pastores (poor recording, numerous speakers were recorded over on the same tape, inaudible); 3. Ofrecimiento, para el portal de Belen (poor recording, singing, inaudible).
Ricardo Archuleta, Cerro, NM, near Tome. Begins at 13:15 and ends at 18:37. Alabados (poor recording, Camina Jose and Maria, el nino perdido, songs, alabados, religious, inaudible).
Musical group, anonymous chorus, from Cerro, NM, near Tome. Begins at 18:40 and ends at 22:54. Songs, Las Posadas (poor recording, various songs, Los corderitos, tonada).
Los Bien Aventurados, musical group, from Taos, NM. Begins at 22:55 and ends at 25:25. Coplas (poor recording, Cobos introduces the group as Los Bienaventurados, violin, banjo, performance, cancion comica).
Adolfo Castillo, Alameda, NM. Begins at 25:29 and ends at 61:20. 1. Alabados (poor recording, Holy Week, Semana Santa, Penitentes, El primer hombre del mundo); 2. Alabado, Nos dio su cuerpo el Senor (poor recording); 3. Alabado, Estaba orado en el huerto (poor recording, huerta, Nuestro Senor de Esquipula, Chimayo); 4. Alabado, Vamos buscando el camino (poor recording); 5. Alabado, La Guadalupana (poor recording, Virgen coronada, Virgin Mary); 6. Alabado, Ay de los tristes gemidos (poor recording); 7. Alabado, A tu santuario bendito (poor recording); 8. Alabado, Contemplemos todos (poor recording); 9. Alabado, Ayuda (poor recording, almas queridas); 10. Song, Padre Jesus Nazareno (poor recording, singing); 11. Song, Bendice Senor la cena (poor recording, singing); 12. Song, Catolico fiel cristiano (poor recording, singing, Las doce verdades del mundo); 13. Song, Madre de dolores (poor recording, singing, madre de tormentos, Virgin Mary); 14. Song, Ven pecador y veras (poor recording, singing); 15. Song, Estaba junto al madero de la cruz la dolorosa (poor recording); 16. Song, Jesucristo me acompane y el angel de nuestra guarda (poor recording); 17. Song, Un siervo del Santo Nino (poor recording, Child Jesus); 18. Song, Venid pecadores (poor recording); 19. Song, Venid, pecadores, variation; 20. Song, San Ignacio de Loyola (poor recording); 21. Song, Por la orilla de un arroyo (poor recording); 22. Song, El miercoles de ceniza (poor recording, singing, Ash Wednesday); 23. Song, Adios (poor recording, singing, acompanamiento, goodbye song of deceased, death, muerte, funeral, at the velorio, here for Jesus). Songs cont. on CD 401 B.
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