La Pastorela, a New Mexican traditional music play

La Pastorela:  An important traditional play in the New Mexican folklore.

In December I had the opportunity to play as an actor in a musical play.  I was invited to play the role of a shepherd in La Gran Pastorella, or play of the Shepherds or Pastores in Spanish.  I of course felt very honored that the organizers invited me.  Can you believe it?  I, singing and acting in public?

Has anyone heard about the pastorella Musical Play?  Have you seen it? (No:  Today you will learn the basics and understand its relevance.  Yes:    )

La Pastorella is a very old New Mexican Christmas musical play that depicts humble events that happen along the way as the shepherds walk towards Bethlehem in search of Jesus, the newborn.

The musical play has its origins back in Spain around the thirteen or fourteen century.  Back in the middle age the Catholic Church used simple drama/plays to teach religious concepts and behaviors to poor peasants and their children.

The play was brought by the Spaniards when they conquered Mexico in the fifteen century and was probably brought to New Mexico by the Franciscan priests as a teaching tool when they started the indoctrination of the natives in the Missions in the 16 and 17 hundreds.

There is no formal and standard documentation or publication of the text of the play.  It has been simply preserved in family notebooks that are used in isolated communities and passed through generations. 

Today there are several versions, which are still occasionally enacted during Christmas in a few small communities in New Mexico.  The play is in Spanish, using very colorful and colloquial expressions and language typical of rural uneducated humble shepherds.  There are also several musicians who play guitars, a violin, and a chorus group made up by the wives of the shepherds.

The play starts with the shepherds (about 10) in the back of the gathering place, singing, one by one, about the newborn in Bethlehem and the star that guides them.  The shepherds walk to the center stage and Bato, one of the key shepherds, suggests that they stop to take a break for the evening.  Gila, a young lady, prepares dinner and once again each of the shepherds gets the spotlight and sings or says a brief line as they receive something to eat.

At this point, one of the central shepherd characters in the musical appears.  He is Bartolo, a shepherd who all he wants to do is lay down, drink and sleep.  And indeed throughout the play he remains lying down and refusing the attempts of his fellow shepherds to help him stand up.

Soon the devil appears.  He has a colorful custom with the traditional image of the devil: a flaming red cape, horns on his head, black pants, a long pointed tail, and he holds a sharp pitchfork.  He has a devilish face, a thunderous voice and devilish antics.  He claims that he controls and commands the sun, the moon, and all the stars in the sky.  He attempts to lure the shepherds away from their walk to Bethlehem and invites them to join in his parties.  Gila, warns Bato that the devil is trying to deceive him.

Now a hermit who is traveling with the shepherds kneels and prays.  The archangel Michael appears and invites the shepherds to continue walking towards Bethlehem and to worship the newborn in the manger.

The devil appears again and confronts the archangel Michael.  The devil threatens to destroy the earth and reclaim his place as owner of his kingdom.  He announces that he will play a trick on the shepherds and will use the hermit for such a purpose.

The Hermit indeed awakens from what seems to be a nightmare.   The devil soothes him and promises to help him.  The devil of course blackmails the hermit by threatening to tell the shepherds that the hermit has robbed them in the past.  The devil tempts the hermit with the potential pleasures of the flesh and persuades him to kidnap the young Gila.

As soon as the hermit kidnaps the young lady Gila, the devil awakens the shepherds and denounces the hermit.  All the shepherds beat and punish the hermit; even Bartolo the lazy shepherd who has been lying down all the time. 

The shepherds go back to sleep and the archangel Michael appears one more time.  He proclaims his message of the annunciation of the birth of Jesus and once again invites the shepherds to find the manger and adore the newborn.

The devil appears one last time and with a thunderous speech attempts to finally persuade the shepherds as he sees that his power is slipping away.  A final and violent struggle occurs between the devil and the archangel Michael.  Eventually the devil is finished and is forced to get away.  The devil acknowledges his defeat and says, “Learn oh flowers from me, what has happened between yesterday and today, yesterday I was a marvel, and today I’m not even a shadow of myself.”

The archangel Michael says that the devil has been defeated by the powers of the Virgin Mary, and the shepherds start walking towards the manger in Bethlehem as they sing praises.

As Bato announces that they have reached the manger where the newborn is found, Joseph and Mary appear at the center of the stage and Mary holds the newborn.  Each of the shepherds starts presenting the humble gift that they offer to Jesus: a mattress, a rooster, a gourd water vessel, a pillow, a blanket, a clothesbasket, swaddling bands, and some food.

I play the role of Alparado, one of the shepherds.  As I present my gift I sing:

“Voy para Belen, con gusto infinito, al recien nacido, le traigo un guajito.”  This translates into something like:  “I am walking towards Bethlehem with infinite pleasure, to the newborn I offer a  drinking gourd container.”

After all the shepherds present their gifts the only one missing is Bartolo the drunken lazy shepherd.  Each shepherd attempts to persuade him to join in the adoration and presentation of gifts but to not avail.  This is a humorous portion of the play.  Each line of the shepherds is followed by cynical remarks from Bartolo, the lazy shepherd which give the audience an opportunity to laugh.  Eventually the shepherds manage to persuade him to get up and Bartolo finally joins in the adoration and presentation of gifts.

The play ends as the shepherds sing as a chorus  several lullabies, praises and Christmas songs and exit the stage.

I invite you to watch this play this coming December.  Unfortunately there are very few places where it is still shown.  This is one of those traditions that are quickly dying from the folkloric culture of New Mexico.  I enjoyed learning about this folk tale and trust that you will enjoy watching the play.

Thank You to All of You Toastmasters

Thank You to All of You Toastmasters

Today I want to say thank you to all of you. 

If I have increased my confidence while standing in front of this audience, if I have improved my ability to prepare and deliver a speech, and If I have improved my overall speaking skills it has been not just because of my effort alone but more importantly it has been because of you:  All of you Competent Communicators, all of you Advanced Communicators and all of you DTMs. Why?

First of all, because your role modeling. 

I learn by watching and imitating.  And when I have the privilege and the opportunity to watch speakers like Merv, Adam and Gail on a frequent basis, as I do here, I see first hand and first row how it is done.  I have enjoyed watching Merv display that ability to motivate and to entertain at the same time.  I have seen Adam use crisp language and eloquence in speeches that helped us build our upper body or taught us how to clear our closets of antiquated electronic relics, and I have seen how he effectively uses body language to illustrate his points.  And I have benefited from watching Gail demonstrate how to use her voice, and a nice smile to convey ideas, serious topics, matters of life and death.  And who could better demonstrate for me how to hold your ground and avoid unnecessary back and forth or sideways rocking of your stance?

So when you hear me and watch me talk with a sense of confidence, hear me use a projecting voice and, watch me purposely remain at a particular area of the stage or move with a sense of purpose that matches and supports my speech, you are seeing a reflection of your role modeling.  And I hope that you will feel a sense of pride and of achievement: You have taught me well; your example has made a searing impact on my speaking.

As I said, it hasn’t been just the role modeling.  How about the specific and sharp popcorn evaluations and feedback?  I can go on and on citing specific examples.  Where else could I have been made aware of my active, dynamic, distracting and out of control gesturing?  Susan, thank you, for your persistent observations.  I know I have made some progress. 

Where else could I have learned about the importance of using callbacks?  Thank you Adam for reminding me.

And what about receiving specific pointers, very personal reminders dealing with your physical appearance?  Bob has reminded us, on several occasions, about the importance of not showing any bulges in our pockets.

Yes, indeed I have received a lot of advice and assistance from all of you.  And of course I am not the only one benefiting from your unselfish giving to this club.  I am reminded of the quote from Benjamin Disraeli: “The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches, but reveal to them their own.” 

All of you, at every Toastmaster meeting, are helping newcomers like me, and dare I say, even helping old timers, discover our own speaking riches and strengths.  So, next time when you don’t feel the urgency to attend a Toastmaster meeting, or you feel a little bit discouraged, remember:  “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”  Your advice, example and feedback are positively impacting newer generations and are making a difference.  Your counsel and experience are sought at every meeting.  We need your continued involvement.  And please be reminded of all the satisfaction that helping others bring.  Thank you once again.