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Antonio Garcia Collection of Native American Music of New Mexico and Mexico

 Collection
Identifier: MU-12

Scope and Content

This collection of 158 songs was collected by Antonio Garcia, Lieutenant Governor of San Juan Pueblo (Ohkay Owingeh), N.M. in 1964 and 1966. Garcia was interested in studying and preserving the ceremonies of his people. The bulk of the songs are performed by the leading singers of the pueblo, some by Garcia. The value of the collection lies in the degree of completeness of the ceremonies recorded. Most of the songs are field recordings; a few are commercially produced. Garcia has established the identity of the songs and provides comments to accompany his recordings.

Included in the field recordings at San Juan Pueblo are traditional basket, harvest, corn and deer dances, as well as a wedding ceremony, a woman’s harvest dance, prayers of thanks, Poom-Koa songs, Matachines dances, Quitera Comanche songs, cacique songs, and San Juan Pueblo, Navajo social dances. There are also songs in Tewa and Tanoan. There are also chants adopted from the Plains Kiowas. Some of the dance patterns and song meanings are discussed and explained in the recordings. Although most of the songs are sung in the native language, some social songs are in English.

There are religious songs from the Huichol, native people who live in the mountains of West Central Mexico.

Garcia has also duplicated several commercially recorded Iroquois songs. These songs are taken from the album, Songs from the Iroquois Longhouse. There is also one song from the Ojibwa Indians.

Dates

  • ca. 1941-1965
  • Majority of material found within 1960-65

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.

Extent

7 CDs (ca. 9.5 hrs.)

Abstract

This collection of sound recordings was donated to the John Donald Robb Archive of Southwestern Music by Antonio Garcia. The music is mainly from San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico, with a few songs of the Huichol of Mexico. In addition, several songs are from the Iroquois and one is from the Ojibwa or Chippewa Tribe.

Related Material

Paul Tosa Collection of Jemez Pueblo Music Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Manuel Archuleta collection of Pueblo Indian, Navajo and Hopi music Center for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico James B. Wright Collection of Southwestern Native American and Hispanic Music, Interviews and Literary ProgramsCenter for Southwest Research, University of New Mexico Hugh Milton Miller Film Collection Center for Southwest Research, University Libraries, University of New Mexico

Processing Information

Indexing and reformatting was done by Adrian Trevino, Music Department, University of New Mexico.

Cassettes reformatted to CD in June 2011.

NOTE: The order of items on the CDs matches the order of items in the list below. However, due to the reformatting process, CD tracks do not necessarily start or stop at the same events as the list below.
Title
Finding Aid of the Antonio Garcia Collection of Native American Music of New Mexico and Mexico, ca. 1941-1965
Status
Completed
Author
Nancy Brown-Martinez
Date
©2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

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