Alabados – Voices of Spirit

Alabados – Voices of Spirit

Today, on this highest of holy days to Catholics, I recall the deeply resonant sounds of the ancient spiritual hymns known as alabados. Recognizing the value and importance of recording these spiritual praises and other musical and religious traditions, folklorist and linguist Dr. Juan B. Rael returned home in the summer of 1940 and recorded the voices of fifteen men and four women from villages in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, including these deeply spiritual hymns.

Listening to the alabados in moradas, oratorios and churches are a special experience, one that I had the privilege being a part of many times over since my youth. These hymns are often deeply sorrowful and for all the participants are meant to evoke a deep understanding of the sufferings of Christ.

For those that sing them as well as those around them, the alabados are profoundly meaningful and significant to their sense of faith and identity. To be keepers of this literary and spiritual tradition is a role long held by the Hermandad de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, the Penitente Brotherhood. For centuries, these guardians have kept the repertory of these hymns alive in cuadernos, but also in a living practice that, though challenged by modern life, continues to this day.

A native of Arroyo Hondo, in Taos County, Dr. Juan B. Rael was himself a community-grown scholar, a role that though still unique for manitos was even more rare in the early 20th century. Mentored by another manito, Stanford Professor Aurelio M. Espinosa, Rael would go on to become a distinguished linguist and folklorist. In 1940, Rael was drawn home, where be would sit down and record the voices of elders sharing these traditions.

This remarkable effort represented one of the first significant moves to document these traditions and resulted in 8 hours of audio recordings, where the alabados represent half the collection.

The men that were recorded by Dr. Rael included  Ricardo Archuleta of Cerro; José Ignacio Cantú of Manassa, Colorado; Alfredo Romero of Arroyo Hondo; Luis Montoya of Cerro; and brothers Esequiel and Narciso Arellano of Arroyo Hondo. A sampling of what was shared in 1940 are below:


On August 9, 1940 in Cerro, New Mexico 70 year old Luis Montoya and 70 year old Ricardo Archuleta shared the alabado Padre Jesus Nazareno (Father Jesus Nazarene). In Rael’s notes of the recording, he writes, “This hymn deals mostly with the Crucifixion of Our Lord and the suffering of the Virgin during the Passion.

Rael, Juan Bautista, Luis Montoya, and Ricardo Archuleta. Padre Jesus Nazareno,
. Cerro, New Mexico, August 9, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000140/.

On August 11, 1940 in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 50 year old Alfredo Romero shared the alabado “Dios te salve, Dolorosa.” In Rael’s notes, he writes of this hymn, “This alabado, an invocation as well as a hymn of farewell to the Virgin, is sung at vigils and wakes, usually after the rosary is recited.”

Citation:Rael, Juan Bautista, and Alfredo Romero. Dios te salve, Dolorosa God Save Thee, Sorrowful Virgin Audio. Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000146/.

On July 30, 1940 in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 46 year old Narciso Arellano shared the alabado “Lloren pecadores” In Rael’s notes, he writes, “This alabado is sung after the seizure of Our Lord by the Roman soldiers, during the procession on Good Friday. It covers most of the events of the Passion.”

Rael, Juan Bautista, and Narciso Arellano. Lloren pecadores Cry, Sinners Audio. Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000016/.

On August 9, 1940 in Cerro, New Mexico, 70 year old Luis Montoya shared the alabado “A la muerte, pecador.” In Rael’s notes, he writes, “This alabado is usually sung at wakes for the dead.”

Rael, Juan Bautista, and Luis Montoya. A la muerte, pecador To Death, Sinner Audio. Cerro, New Mexico, August 9, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000095/.

On July 30, 1940 in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico 46 year old Narciso Arellano shared the alabado “Madre de Dolores (Mother of Sorrows).”

Citation: Rael, Juan Bautista, and Narciso Arellano. Madre de Dolores Mother of Sorrows Audio. Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000018/.

On August 7, 1940 in Manassa, Colorado, 72 year old José Ignacio Cantú shared Dulcisimo Jesús mío (My Sweetest Jesus). In Rael’s notes, he writes, “This hymn makes reference to an image of Christ, El Cristo de Mapimí, which is enshrined in the town of Cuencamé, in the state of Durango, Mexico.”

Rael, Juan Bautista, and José Ignacio Cantú. Dulcisimo Jesús mío My Sweetest Jesus Audio
. Manassa, Colorado, August 7, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000102/.

On August 11, 1940, 50 year old Alfredo Romero and 46 year old Narciso Arellano jointly shared “Soy esclavo de Jesús (I am a Slave of Jesus).”

Rael, Juan Bautista, Narciso Arellano, and Alfredo Romero. Soy esclavo de Jesús
. Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000149/.

On July 30, 1940 40 year old Esequiel Arellano of Arroyo Hondo shared the alabado “Jesucristo me acompañe.” In Rael’s notes, he writes, “The first part of this hymn contains a series of contemplations on different incidents that occurred during the Passion of Our Lord. The last four strophes contain expressions of farewell and thanks to Our Lord, the Virgin, and St. Joseph. The hymn is sung during the afternoon procession on Holy Thursday.”

Rael, Juan Bautista, and Esequiel Arellano. Jesucristo me acompañe
. Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico, 1940. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/raelbib000021/.

8 thoughts on “Alabados – Voices of Spirit

  1. As an Hermano myself, the experience of the brotherhood, the alabados, ancient rezos, and all that comes with being a member of the Cofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno is something that I can not express in words.

  2. Hermano Miguel, Santos y muy Buenas Tardes le de Dios; y que Dios te haga un Santo y aumenta su devocion para el alivio y descanso de los Benditos Almas en el Purgatorio, sea por el Amor de Dios; y que Dios te cuida y te bendiga.

    (Hermano David Fernandez de Taos, Hermano Apostol del Tribunal de Santo Tomas)

  3. OH, Yes, I remember everything very well. My Grandfather was a Penitente in Vallecitos,NM. And, the woman’s role cooking and taking the penitents their meals. We didn’t see our Grandfather for 40 days and 40 nights. Lent was so special. It truly was a spiritual journey. So many of our traditions have been lost. Our Catholic faith should never be compromised for any reason. Holy Communion is more than that. We receive The Body and The Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Lent is supposed to be a growth in our walk towards heaven. That is what Jesus gave us and did for us. Thank God. May our Lord richly bless each person and their family as they read all about these posts.

  4. Es una buena presentación. ¿Existen grabaciones que puedan ser adquiridas?
    Tenemos algunos alabados de la región sur de Saltillo y General Cepeda.

    1. Sr. Valdés, gracias por su nota. Los Alabados están enlazados en el post y son solo una muestra de los que se encuentran en la Biblioteca del Congreso (Library of Congress), donde puedes descargarse gratuitamente. Ese sitio web es loc.gov; busque la palabra “alabados.”

  5. My Father was an Hermano from Ojo Feliz, New Mexico. He prayed and sang his Alabados from his Grandfather’s books. He left these Precious Books of Alabados to my son. I grew up listening to my Dad pray and sing these often, especially during La Semana Santa. Most Inspiring and humble sounds. + Blessings to All Hermanos.

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