With original, traditional New Mexican-style retablo cover art and contemporary sketches by Sean Wells. Includes a 10-page booklet with lyrics, portraits of the elders we've learned from, and information about the styles and genres that make up traditional instrumental Northern New Mexican music.
Includes unlimited streaming of Nuevas Acequias, Rio Viejo: traditional music of Northern New Mexico
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
ships out within 7 days
$15USDor more
about
From the repertoire of Cleofes Ortiz of Bernal, New Mexico. We first learned this from a recording of Cleo that features Bayou Seco along with Scott Mathis and Linda Askew of Albuquerque.
Though Cleo put down his fiddle to raise a family for much of the Western Swing Era in New Mexico, he played some of the older repertoire with the light swinging syncopation typical of his generation, and which took root particularly in chotises, cunas, and songs like this one. “Muñequita Linda” was one of the first tunes we learned as a band. As with all of these tunes, we start out as close as possible to the last generation but allow our own experience and audiences to shape the tune with each performance, so we end up with something our own.
The lyrics come from Lorenzo Trujillo of Arroyo Seco, near Taos, New Mexico (now of Denver, Colorado), who plays the tune as a bolero. Older people often approach us when we sing this and share their memories of hearing the song sung to them by their grandparents. It’s a very old song and speaks of the separation of two lovers who must listen for an echo on the wind to know if they’re still remembered; we added the English verse about texting each other because we don’t have that problem anymore.
lyrics
Muñequita linda de cabellos de oro,
De dientes de perla, labios de rubí.
Díme si me quieres como yo te adoro,
Si de mi te acuerdas como yo de tí.
Beautiful angel with hair of gold,
Teeth of pearl, lips of ruby,
Tell me if you love me like I love you,
If you remember me like I remember you.
A veces escucho un eco divino
Que envuelto en la brisa parece decir:
Sí te quiero mucho, mucho, mucho, mucho,
Tanto como entonces, siempre hasta morir.
Sometimes I hear a divine echo
That wrapped in the breeze seems to say:
Yes, I love you, very, very, much,
As much as before, forever until death.
Sometimes I get a text and I feel a bit perplexed,
‘Cause I think I hear an echo of your laughter ring.
Someone says ‘te quiero, nunca te olvido,’
All within the iPhone’s simple little ding.
supported by 8 fans who also own “Muñequita Linda (Swing/Foxtrot)”
Great choice of music, expertly played and sung. Nicely produced. I hope to see The Onlies live, asap. This is an album I listen to over and over. Karamogo
supported by 7 fans who also own “Muñequita Linda (Swing/Foxtrot)”
This rendition of Virgil Anderson's "Jenny Hang the Kettle On" is wonderful. It perfectly grabs the simplistic beauty of Virgil's version, but has such clarity. Amazing album! Payton Scott
supported by 6 fans who also own “Muñequita Linda (Swing/Foxtrot)”
Powerful collection rooted in the stories that must be re-told. Played by some of the most generous community music people I’ve met during my foray into Old Time music.
This CD is a keeper! Ellen B. (Elly) Marshall