A Chapter on Oral History of Revolutionary Songs

War Note!

Elham Saleh
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2016-5-15

One might wonder how music fits in war. This was the question many soldiers had in mind during the Holy Defense; however after the performance of Mirzavandi, they found the answer. All the songs and lyrics in local dialects and languages was enticement for soldiers to defend their religion and country. Music was a means that Mirzavandi used to efficiently employ it. The fact that who he is and his achievements are all presented in a book: “I’ll fight to my last breath”. This book defines the role of art and the artist in eight years of Holy Defense.

Narrative Prose, Simple Sentences

“I’ll fight to my last breath” is a story but not a fiction which is the second collection of “Oral History of Cultural Fronts of Revolution – Revolution songs and lyrics” which is the biography of Mohammad Mirzavandi. The book uses very simple sentences to explain events: “I retired in 2006; after thirty years and fifteen days of service. The minister appreciated my service with a reward. I was sad. Tehran was fun. Once I returned, the artists planed a program for fifteen days.”

 Despite simple sentences there is the fictional prose which draws the audience: “I dragged myself towards the TV. I turned it on. The images were fuzzy and once it cleared I heard the showman say: “we are looking at the images of the invasion of Iraq.” The aircrafts were attacking non-stop. The rubble was still there and dust was in the air that I heard women and children crying. Houses were destroyed…”

Transcription and translation of poems

“I’ll fight to my last breath” is not only Mohammad Mirzavanid’s biography. In the section of “Arts” we can see his poems and lyrics. In the book, many of poems and lyrics are translated into Farsi for the audience to understand. There is another aspect and the notes for some of the songs are provided which might be interesting for music enthusiasts.

The last part of the book contains images of Mohammad Mirzavanid, newspaper articles with his interviews and pictures of his awards. The book has a reference which provides complementary information and an audio collection containing music as stated in the book.

Description and Illustration

Once you start reading the book you wish that other books describing war and captivity would employ the same tone for the audience to be able to relate. Most books basically define events but I’ll fight to my last breath has imagery. Reading the simple sentences the image is formed in your mind: It was winder of 85. It was cold. The cold air was burning. With every breath a halo of fog was formed. An old minibus was waiting. The bus condition was not important. We were looking for a vehicle to transport us. I grabbed the horizontal long handle and pulled myself up. I sat on the seat next to the window. I slightly pushed my bag under the seat. I pushed the dirty and pale curtain of the window with my fingertips. The curtain had turned black and it was impossible to tell what color was it originally. The window pain was not any better.

Eye-catching graphics

Once you open the book, there is a graphic design unlike other. The first two pages contain an eye-catching graphic design with a message; it represents the title of the book; background of one page is red and the other one white with large fonts. Another graphic design forms the book ID; two pages with pictures of Mohammad Mirzavandi and one of his fellow group members performing. Usually the last pages of most books are left blank but the three last pages of this book are designed in the form of a notebook for those who are used to taking notes.

The cover of the book also represents a beautiful design; image of a rifle among musical notes. This is what Mirzavandi used to do during war. Performing in the fronts, an enticement for the soldiers to defend their country; a jeremiad that would make the audience weep.

The back cover is white with a part of the book content on it; red color is used which would encourage the audience to read. The book has unique graphic work.

Memory; a jeremiad to weep

Every performance was a memory. Performance in the front was special. The way different people would relate to the music was more interesting. Mirzavandi states in the book:

We had ordinary clothes on. We mostly performed in mosques and Husseinia. We performed everywhere. I visited Mr. Kuwaitipour and Ahangaran.

One of our team members told to the Friday Prayer Imam: Come to our performance tonight.

He smiled and said:

- We are different. We make soldiers cry. You make them happy.

- It is possible to cry with music. Join us tonight and you’ll see.

The clergy came to our performance and cried. As if he was in a mourning ceremony.

He wiped tears with his hands from his face and said:

With this music you touched my heart. A revolution was revived in my heart.