Gypsy's Chord Melody

Gypsy’s Chord Melody

Author: Mohammad Hadi Mohammadi

Illustrator: Haleh Tavakoli

Year of Publication: 2012

Number of Pages: 32

 

Constant displacement of Gypsies acquires millennial antiquity. In Indo-Iranian history, gypsy’s chord melody is considered to be the dearly held melody of tramps and Dervishes. Gypsy’s Chord Melody implements basic universal elements (water, fire, soil and air) symbolically in four children of Papa Roma, who is the protagonist of the story.

The tendency of these elements and their symbolic embodiments to intermingle and at the same integrate is depicted mystically. Being itinerant, Papa Roma metes out his demands among his children so that each can provide him with an element for making wheat and bread. However, each hinders his demands with an excuse. The process of Roma Papa’s request making and the denial of his children in its fulfillment is always read allegorically so that the itinerant and betraying nature of gypsy lifestyle can be emphasized. The illustrator of the book creates a surreal atmosphere in his selection of a child like but at the same time mystical cover image. 

Many believe that Gypsy’s Chord Melody is considered to be the oldest children literature. For instance, he Assyrian tree of the story is a re-adaptation of the 2500 years old Assyrian tree legend. This legend is supposed to be one of mythological masterpieces of the Persian literature. Historians believe that this legend is taught officially in schooling systems of Parthian and Sasanian empires so that children can be acquainted with literary and linguistic structures of the legend.