Articles by Ruben Cobos, from December 1 to December 29, 1949. December 1, 1949, Novena Parte, Cobos continues the challenges between the poets Gracia and Vilmas, and adds in some verses from the other poets Cienfuegos and Taberas. Cobos then switchs to a visit he and his University of New Mexico Spanish class students took to Chilili, New Mexico, where they talked to the family Dow, owners of the local store, and to Don Rubel Martinez. These folks directed them to the home of Agapito Sedillo. Cobos recited some verses he had learned from Eleuto Medina, school teacher from Taos, and Sedillo replied with some verses and a romance, song that he knew, including one from Vilmas. December 8, 1949, Decima Parte, Cobos continues talking to Agapito Sedillo about the poet Vilmas. Sedillo said he heard that El Negrito was a negro man, an African, a Black, who knew Spanish well and was from Mexico, from the southern part. El Negrito went to the North, to trovar, to challenge the poetas Nortenos, among them El Viejo VIlmas. The two did poetic contests a couple of times but little remains of them. Cobos then discusses the content of the poems, trovos, use of the pattern of the coplas or decimas, and includes the text of a poetic trovo contest between Vilmas and El Negrito, as sung by Manuel A. Esquibel, from La Joya, New Mexico and recited by Filomeno Rivera, from Albuquerque. December 15, 1949, Cobos here is writing about poesia narrativa, narrative poetry, verses, in el romance, el corrido and la indita, gives a long historical background, with dates and examples, of the romance, being transferred from Spain to Mexico and then New Mexico, how music and ideas were exchanged between New Mexico and Mexico at trade fairs and while transporting goods in the Chihuahua caravans to New Mexico and from Mexico, and how the Spanish missionary fathers taught music and songs in New Mexico. An example is the story of Chicoria given above. Next Cobos describes the Spanish romance, spmg background, stanza, rhythm, etc. December 22, 1949, in this article Cobos continues with the romance, and prints the full text to the Romance de Francisco Madero, from Spain, as recited by Francisco Lobato, from Canones, New Mexico, who said he learned the piece from a man in Colorado, who was from Dixon, New Mexico. Francisco Madero, a caballero, knight, lived in Granada, Spain, where the Moros held control, medieval times. While he was away, the devil told Francsico his wife was making love to another caballero, the devil in disguise, causing terrible jealousy in him, and the devil send him to revenge the other man and kill his wife and baby, and then the devil tried to killed Francisco, who called on the VIrgin Mary of the rosary and the angels, who banished the devil, ending the trauma. Francisco went home to find his wife and child alive. In December 29, 1949, Cobos presents the printed lyrics, full text to La Esposa Infiel, as sung by Leonardo Casados, of Cuba, New Mexico, which is the tragedy of Elena and her husband Benito and their two little daughters. She had affair with a man from France while her husband was away at battle, Frenchman, a soldier in Mexico during the time of the French intervention of Maximiliano. Her husband found out and killed her. Following that is the Romance de Francisquita, as communicated to Cobos by Senora Frank Fooler, of Albuquerque, which is another version of this tragedy., December 1949
File — Box: 12, Folder: 8
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
- December 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.)
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