Articles by Ruben Cobos, March 2 - March 30. In March 2, 1950, Cobos prints the song lyrics, text for the orrido de Tecolote, recited by Ambrosio Archuleta, of Tecolote, New Mexico, a catastrophe in the plaza de Tecolote in 1800, near Las Vegas, New Mexico, God burned the town down, and only with God could the people built it again. Cobos notes that there are some more complete verses of this Corrido, by Juan Cordova, in the Federal Writers Project collection, in Notebook No 9, at the Santa Fe Museum, followed by Cobos introducing the Corrido de Las Islas Filipinas, as a tribute to the men of the New Mexico 200th Coastal Artillery Battalion, World War II, Philippines, Japan, as composed by Luis Martinez, of Los Martinez, Martineztown, Albuquerque, who made and distributed records with this song, group included valient United States, New Mexican and Mexican soldiers from the South, Mexico, said Cobos. March 9, 1950, Cobos writes about some corridos sung in New Mexico that are of uncertain origin, they are so widely known, and contain no indication of their origin - two examples - first, El hijo desobediente from Senorita Elisa Castillo, from Belen High School, Belen, New Mexico. In March 16, 1950, Cobos presents the second, El mal hijo, by Ezequiel Candelaria, Santa Barbara, Albuquerque, song date October 16, 1899, followed by Cobos beginning a presentation on three frontier corridos, composed on the border between the United States and Mexico, Borderlands, in the style of Mexican corridos -first, El Corrido de Kansas o Los Vaqueros de Kansas, cowboys, Cobos said he got one version from Felipe Martinez, that dated to about 1850 and that in 1895 he had learned it from one of the vaqueros involved in the very incident, at that time the man was seventy years old, lyrics say that the vaqueros were on a cattle drive bound for Janes. Here are lyrics, text for Los Vaqueros, sung by Jose D. Lucero, age 70, from Bernalillo, New Mexico, driving 500 head of cattle, across the plains, led by 15 Mexican cowboys, passed by San Marcos, Granero, song is telling the mother her cowboy son was killed in a corral by a steer. In March 23, 1950 article, Cobos prints the words, lyrics to a second one, El Contrabando de El Paso, recited by Aureliano Amendariz, of Mesilla, New Mexico, that men from the prison in El Paso sent to Leavenworth Penitentiary, followed by a third, the Corrido de Toribio Huertas, by Jose Faquis, Tijeras, New Mexico, about hanging in Las Cruces, New Mexico, of Huertas on April 26, 1801, he was from Camargo, Mexico, had bad luck, killed Quico, the one who pulled the platform beneath him was Jose Lucero, who will get his compensation. In the March 30, 1950 article, Cobos writes about the Indita, the last form of poesia narrative, narrative poetry, and gives background, definition and construction, similar to the romance and corrido, but it has a special Indian melody from New Mexico, has names of local people and places, full text for the Indita de Sencion Costales, sung by Manuel A. Esquibel, from Las Nutrias, New Mexico, about the Indio, Native American named Costales, Indio Costales, was feared by the rich men, his followers were the poor, a Robin Hood type, by the river he was betrayed and assassinated, was buried in the Valley of San Diego, followed by a fragment of the Indita del Indio Victorio, by Placido Chavez, Tome, New Mexico,on the death of Chief Victorio., March 1950
File — Box: 12, Folder: 11
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
- March 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
- 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