For centuries in the region of Rio Arriba in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, folk musicians have been very highly esteemed by local families and communities. In the absence of priests, the troubadours often officiate families’ most important religious ceremonies with their verses, delivering angels for baptisms, brides and grooms for weddings and the dead at funerals. During the ceremonies, these poets recount details of the history of each family and community in verse. In the following report–part of the series, “Raíces: Songs and Stories of Río Arriba”–veteran musicians and historians share the traditional music and anecdotes of these deliveries or “Entriegas.” Rubén Tapia prepared this report.
This entry is available only in Español.
