Pueblo Indian Songs from San Juan

Canyon Records

©1969 Canyon Records, Phoenix, AZ
The San Juan Peublo, located about five miles north of Espanola, New Mexico, holds many colorful dances and celebration through the year – highlighted by the commemoration of the feast of San Juan on Jun 24. At that time the Pueblo is crowded with visitors: sons, daughters, grandchildren of Pueblo, on holiday from jobs in other parts of the country, return to visit and partake in the festivities. Indians from other tribes and pueblos arrive to view the beautifully costumed dancers execute the ancient rituals. Non-Indian tourists, hobbyists, and friends of the Pueblo are on hand.
To preserve on record some of these chants, two groups of singers, under leadership of Peter V. Aguino, have consented to record this album.

Play song

Name

Performed by

Description

Native Words

Translation

Notes
Evening Dance Singers: Leader, Peter V. Aguino; Juan J. Aguino; Carpio Trujillo This dance, which is performed the night before Christmas, is one of the most formal and solemn of the "Winter" season. It is sponsored by the newly elected officers of the Pueblo (who are elected annually at this time of year).
The singers begin by recalling the past year – the summer flowers, the butterflies, all things good which have occurred. They go on to ask for another good year) and a good, mild day next day for the Christmas celebrations). Although formal and dignified, this is a social dance, heralding the new civic year.		 San Juan Pueblo
Turtle Dance Singers: Leader, Peter V. Aguino; Juan J. Aguino; Carpio Trujillo This dance, performed on Christmas, is ceremonial in nature. The rituals have been carefully rehearsed for weeks, and preceded by secret rites in the kivas before being publicly performed in the Plaza. The dance accoutrements have been made ready. Evergreens (symbols of life) are gathered and brought to the Pueblo for the dancers to wear and carry. The dancers' bodies have been painted the brown of turtle shells, and actual turtle shells are strapped to each dancers' leg just below the knee. The Turtle symbolism is used since the Turtle is a water creature, and the farmers of the Pueblo need water for the coming year's crops. The song recalls emergence from the world of water long ago, far to the north, and goes on to mention the wheat, the corn – and prays that the crops will flourish and be good. San Juan Pueblo
Cloud Dance Song Singers: Leader, Peter V. Aguino; Juan J. Aguino; Carpio Trujillo In this song, accompanying the after-Christmas dance honoring the newly elected officials, the singers seek blessing for these officials – pray that their rule may be blessed and good, and that the people of the Pueblo may cooperate and obey the laws. San Juan Pueblo
Summer Buffalo Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino This is essentially a dance for good hunting, and is performed on January 6 by the "Summer" clan; it is followed by the "Winter" Buffalo. If for some reason the "Summer" Buffalo is not put on on January 6, then it is danced on the feast of San Juan, June 24.
The dance enacts a buffalo chase, and dates from the days when buffalo were available and encouraged to approach the pueblo . . . for food and symbolically to drive away illness and disease.
The dancers wear masks of great shaggy buffalo heads (or simulated heads utilizing cow horns and hide), dance kirtles and moccasins, and carry bows in arrows in one hand, and rattles in the other.		 San Juan Pueblo
Winter Buffalo Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino Usually performed on King's Day, January 6. (This dance must be performed before January 23.) Members of the Pueblo who live away from the Pueblo frequently return, if possible, and participate. The costumes and steps are similar to the Summer Buffalo, but the song and participants are different. San Juan Pueblo
Basket Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino This is a fertility rite, performed usually the last of January, before the planting season. It is a prayer for a good harvest, and asks blessings for the soil, the seeds, the growing plants. There are prayers for clouds, rain, all the requirements of nature for a successful growing season.
The listener will note 3 parts to this selection, as the music changes for the parts of the ceremony. First comes the singer's chorus. Next young girls with baskets kneel and rub sticks against the baskets in a grinding rhythm, symbolic of the hoped for fertility and harvest. Finally, the girls rise, and dance with the boys to conclude the dance.		 San Juan Pueblo
Butterfly Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino Although this spring-time dance is for rain and for the coming of Spring, it is in the nature of a social dance. It is considered the richest dance of the San Juan Pueblo, and requires much planning.
The women of the Pueblo get together, see a suitable date from the village cacique, and then decide which lady will be the Butterfly Lady this year, and which man will be asked to be her partner in the dance. The man not only is not expected to refuse, but also has to pay for the privilege. This payment is in the form of gifts to the 'Butterfly Lady' – gifts not only provided by himself, but all his relatives.
San Juan's Butterfly Dance differs in this respect from those of some other pueblos: there is only this one female dancer and one male dancer. In other pueblos, there is often a long line of dancers. The festivities last all day, with the dance figures at intervals, gift giving, and feasting.		 San Juan Pueblo
Peace-Pipe Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino This is a very old song, used in former times to celebrate after a battle victory. It has been traditionally sung long before the birth of the present singers. A lady and a man perform the dance, each holding a symbolic peace-pipe at a right-angle form the body. San Juan Pueblo
Eagle Dance Singers: Peter V. Aguino; leader; Joe M. Abeyta; Diego Aguino The Eagle Dance song, as it is sung at the San Juan Pueblo. Once of ceremonial significance, this dance has now become a show dance or social dance. It requires two lightweight but strong dancers – of fine endurance and very great skill to manipulate the feathered costume and to control the leg muscles for the intricate patterns of stooping and swooping. San Juan Pueblo