Folk Music Collector
Jorge López, Alabados balladeer, Chimayó, photo by JD Robb, circa 1950
A Fascination with Folk Music
John Donald Robb’s fascination with Hispanic folk music led to his recording of more than 3,000 traditional Hispanic folk songs and dances from the American Southwest and South America, all of which formed the nucleus of the John Donald Robb Archives of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico. Robb was the author of several books on the subject and he received numerous honors and grants, including an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of New Mexico.
Access Robb's personal papers, photographs, music scores, field recordings, and other materials below.
Robb Archives at UNM Libraries
UNM Center for Southwest Research
(505) 277-6451
website
CSWR is the home of John Donald Robb’s personal papers, photographs, musical scores, field recordings, and other materials donated to the University Libraries according to the wishes of Robb and his wife, Harriet. Visit the CSWR website for information about the collections, hours, visitor information, policies and forms. Centrally located in the UNM Zimmerman Library, the CSWR welcomes researchers from around the world who make use of our collections throughout the year.
UNM Fine Arts & Design Library
(505) 277-2357
website
This collection contains CD copies of Robb Field Recordings along with a number of his other recordings and publications. The field recordings and a number of the publications are also available at the Center for Southwest Research. Search the library’s online catalog for details of holdings. The Fine Arts & Design Library is located within George Pearl Hall across from the UNM Bookstore.
Field Recordings
Robb began making field recordings shortly after his arrival at UNM in 1941 and continued that work for more than 40 years. His collection eventually grew to 94 reels of audio tapes, containing nearly 3,000 recordings of more than 1,800 songs recorded in the U.S. Southwest, Mexico and Spain. These recordings preserve many of the musical traditions of these areas, especially New Mexico and Southern Colorado, and include Native American, Hispano, Mexican and African American music, as well as railroad and cowboy songs, fiddle music and the music of festivals and fiestas.
Field Recordings are available in the following formats:
John Donald Robb’s fascination with Hispanic folk music led to his recording of more than 3,000 traditional Hispanic folk songs and dances from the American Southwest and South America, all of which formed the nucleus of the John Donald Robb Archives of Southwestern Music at the University of New Mexico. Robb was the author of several books on the subject and he received numerous honors and grants, including an honorary Doctor of Music from the University of New Mexico.
Access Robb's personal papers, photographs, music scores, field recordings, and other materials below.
Robb Archives at UNM Libraries
UNM Center for Southwest Research
(505) 277-6451
website
CSWR is the home of John Donald Robb’s personal papers, photographs, musical scores, field recordings, and other materials donated to the University Libraries according to the wishes of Robb and his wife, Harriet. Visit the CSWR website for information about the collections, hours, visitor information, policies and forms. Centrally located in the UNM Zimmerman Library, the CSWR welcomes researchers from around the world who make use of our collections throughout the year.
UNM Fine Arts & Design Library
(505) 277-2357
website
This collection contains CD copies of Robb Field Recordings along with a number of his other recordings and publications. The field recordings and a number of the publications are also available at the Center for Southwest Research. Search the library’s online catalog for details of holdings. The Fine Arts & Design Library is located within George Pearl Hall across from the UNM Bookstore.
Field Recordings
Robb began making field recordings shortly after his arrival at UNM in 1941 and continued that work for more than 40 years. His collection eventually grew to 94 reels of audio tapes, containing nearly 3,000 recordings of more than 1,800 songs recorded in the U.S. Southwest, Mexico and Spain. These recordings preserve many of the musical traditions of these areas, especially New Mexico and Southern Colorado, and include Native American, Hispano, Mexican and African American music, as well as railroad and cowboy songs, fiddle music and the music of festivals and fiestas.
Field Recordings are available in the following formats:
- Digital Recordings Online: Nearly 3,000 selections from John Donald Robb’s field work are available in the CSWR Digital Collections. Click here to listen to original recordings.
- Compact Discs: CDs made from Robb’s original reel-to-reel tapes are available for listening at the Center for Southwest Research or the UNM Fine Arts & Design Library. Additionally, the CDs at the Fine Arts library are available for checkout to UNM borrowers. A guide is available at the Center for Southwest Research for Robb Archive #MU7. Search title = john donald robb field recordings.
- Song Texts: The J.D. Robb Collection of Folk Music Recordings: Song Texts. Three volumes, in the Center for Southwest Research and also the Fine Arts & Design Library. Call number: ML156.4.F6 R61.
- Melodies: The J. D. Robb Collection of Folk Music: Melodies. Three volumes, in the Center for Southwest Research and also the Fine Arts & Design Library. Call number: ML156.4 F6 R6.
Books
- Hispanic Folk Music Of New Mexico and the Southwest: A Self-Portrait of a People. Robb, John Donald, compiler. University of Oklahoma Press, 1980. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4H52. Republished by University of New Mexico Press, 2014. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4H52 2014.
- Hispanic Folk Songs of New Mexico: With Selected Songs Collected, Transcribed and Arranged for Voice with Piano or Guitar Accompaniment. Robb, John Donald. University of New Mexico Press, Revised 2008. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1629.R666H5 2008.
- Cancionero: Songs of Laughter and Faith in New Mexico. Robb, John Donald, compiler. University of New Mexico Press, 2015. In the CSWR and Fine Arts libraries: call number M1668.4.R63 2015.
There are a number of publications and recordings by Robb in the University Libraries catalog. Search by Author = Robb, J. D.
Other Sources
Library of Congress New Mexico Collection
Other Sources
Library of Congress New Mexico Collection