This is an edited PermaThread©. It will be moderated by Q, Artful Codger, and Monique. Feel free to post here, but be aware that your post may be edited or deleted. -Joe Offer-

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This moderated thread presents an article by Q on the Mexican and New Mexican folk play Los Pastores, a celebration of the Nativity.  The article focuses on songs contained in the play and sung by the shepherds, including textual variants from different settlements in the Rio Grande Valley.  Gallegos tunes are from the Corrales, NM. MSS.  Musical samples are provided.  The article was posted by Artful Codger on Q's behalf, but please direct PM's to Q.

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Los Pastores

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MIDIs and PDF scores are provided for the italicized entries.
 
• INTRODUCTION
• Copyright notice
• CAST
• PROLOGUE
  • Song: Cuando por el oriente
    1. Gallegos; Robb MS 1638 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Agua Fria version [with translation]
    3. San Rafael (Cole)
• ACT 1.  Shepherds traveling to Bethlehem. Luzbel tries to mislead them.
  • Song: Canto de Pastores (Ya se van los pastores)
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #1 [with MIDI, PDF]
  • Song: Hermanos pastores
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #2 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Juan B. Rael Coll. [with translation]
    3. Agua Fria version [with translation]
    4. Socorro, NM version [with translation]
  • Song: Cielo soberano
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #3 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Juan B. Rael Coll. [with translation]
    3. Agua Fria version [with translation]
    4. Cielos soberanos. San Rafael/Cole
  • Synopsis of the end of the act
• ACT 2.  Shepherds camped. An angel brings news of the birth
  • Song: Gloria a Dios en las alturas
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #4 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. San Antonio, TX/Cole [with translation, MIDI, PDF]
  • Song: Pastores con regocijo
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #5
  • Song: Guerra le daremos
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #6
  • Song: Desterrado Satanas
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #8
  • Song: De la real Jerusalén
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #9 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Juan B. Rael Coll. [with translation]
    3. San Rafael, NM/Cole
    4. Agua Fria version [with translation]
  • Song: Venturosos pastores
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #10 [with MIDI, PDF]
• ACT 3.  The Manger (Gateway to Bethlehem)
  • Song: Todos los pastores vamos caminando
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #11
  • Songs: Esta sí que es noche Buena & Me gusta
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #13 & #14 [with MIDI, PDF]
  • Song: Bien venido seas
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos #18
  • Song: A la ru (Duérmete Niño lindo)
    1. “A la ru”, Corrales MS./ Gallegos #19 [with partial translation, MIDI, PDF]
    2. “A la ru”, Juan B. Rael Coll. [with translation]
    3. “A la rru, a la me”, San Rafael, NM/Cole
    4. “A la ruru”, San Antonio, TX/Cole [with translation, MIDI, PDF]
    5. “Arrullamiento”, Durango, Mex./Stark
    6. “Duérmete Niño lindo”, Agua Fria version [with translation]
  • Songs: A tu rancho pastorcillo
    1. First verse. Corrales MS./Gallegos #20 [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Second verse. Ruén Cobos lecture [with translation]
• Additional Songs and Variations
  • Song: Los Pastores, Introduction; Al portal de Belén
    1. Agua Fria version, Robb, item 38 [with translation]
  • Song: Vamos todos a Belén
    1. Anton-Chico-Corrales; Robb 1157A
  • Song: En risueño cantos
    1. Lower Rio Grande Valley/Cole [with transation, MIDI, PDF]
  • Song: Adiós, Niño lindo
    1. Mesilla NM version
  • Song: O pan de vida
    • (May be sung in Prologue, or end of Act 1)
    1. Corrales MS./Gallegos [with MIDI, PDF]
    2. Agua Fria version [with translation]
  • Song: Venturosos pastores marchemos
    1. Agua Fria version [with translation]
  • Song: A la sombra de un árbol (frondoso)
    1. San Antonio, TX/Cole [with translation, MIDI, PDF]
    2. Lower Rio Grande valley/Bourke [with translation]
• REFERENCES

ABC source file for the posted MIDIs and PDF scores: (click to download)
Compatible online ABC converter: http://mandolintab.net/abcconverter.php