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Articles by Ruben Cobos, from January 5 - 26, 1950. In January 5, 1950, Cobos prints the words or lyrics to these pieces, La Zagala, a song, by Leonardo Casados, Cuba, New Mexico, the shepherd girl and the pastor, shepherd, sheep in the field, love song, followed by the lyrics for Las Senas del esposo, from the cuaderno, notebook of Julian Zamora, of Tome, New Mexico, it is the song of La Recien Casada, women, but here the widow looks for her husband for over twenty years, had two children and raised them, here her husband was killed by the king of France, in other versions it was by un frances, a Frenchman, here he died at Valerio, other versions say at Valverde, battle field of the Civil War in New Mexico, interesting adaptations, slight changes in words from other versions. In January 8, 1950, Cobos presents the lyrics for El Cuando de Gallo, by Ventura Varos, of Stanley, New Mexico, song about Galisteo, New Mexico, galloping horses, rooster pull, from the sand, mentions the Luceros, los Chavez, Don Ambrosio, Encarnacion Gonzales, Pablo Padilla, Marcelino, the musician, David, Jesus Lovato, Jose Manuel Sandoval, Victor, Manuel Gonzales, Pecos, Los Madrid, Madrid, New Mexico, see also Folder 9. In Janury 12, 1950, Cobos prints the lyrics to Las Senas del Esposo, sung by Mrs. L. U. Nevarez,of Las Vegas, New Mexico, this is the song of La Recien Casada, women, widow looking for her husband, in this version he was killed by a Frenchman in the battles at Valverde, New Mexico, the Civil War battle near Fort Craig, followed by two versions of La Aparicion, first by Amador Abeyta, Sabinal, New Mexico, medieval song about the the vision or appearance of the devil to a young horseman, a caballero, knight on the sandy beach, in Spain, medieval times, looking for his wife, who had died and five ships or five dukes that had taken her to the city of Madrid, and La Aparicion, by Pablita Galindo, Las Colonias, New Mexico, another verse of the song, followed by Senor don Gato, by Mrs. Frank Pooler, Albuquerque, a song about a Spanish cat marrying a Moorish Arabian cat, he falls, breaks his bones and dies. In January 19, 1950, Cobos presents the lyrics fo El Romance de los Dos Hermanos, copied from the notebook of Bennie Romero, from Alcalde, New Mexico, song about a good woman, with two sons, who married two sisters, the older a hard working farmer, the younger who played around and later died, leaving his wife and two children. The widow asked for food from her sister who refused. When the good son went to check on the widow and children they were dead, with the angels around them. Followed by Por el Rastro de la Sangre, por el Rastro de la Cruz, by Adolfo Castillo, Alameda, New Mexico, song of the passion of Jesus Christ, used by the Penitentes. In January 26, 1950, Cobos gives the second type of the poesia narrativa - el corrido, history and background, the beginning of the New Mexico corrido tradition, evolving from the romances of Spain and the corridos of Mexico, in Mexico they come in three periods, from the time of the independence of Mexico to the time of Porfirio Diaz through the revolution to 1928, brought into New Mexico by the annual field workers coming from Chihuahua, and some were created originnally within New Mexico, like Los Vaqueros de Kansas and El Contrabando de El Paso, makes a comparison of the Spanish romance and the Mexican corrido, the New Mexico corrido is often created like a copla popular, poetry, along a certain theme, use of the date for the event, name of the composer of the corrido is in the song, etc. Cobos uses the Corrido de Bonifacio Torres as an example, from Mexico, death of Bone Torres for his valor, as composed by Guillermo Torres., January 1950

 File — Box: 12, Folder: 9

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.

Dates

  • January 1950

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

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