History of the soldier (piece of music)

See also: History of the soldier

the History of the soldier is a piece of music composed by Igor Stravinski in 1917 on a text of Charles Ferdinand Ramuz for three actors (the soldier, devil and the princess) and seven instrumentalists (Violon, Contrebasse, Basson, Cornet, Trombone, Clarinette and percussions).

It is posterior with the great ballets stravinskiens and precedes its neo-classic period. The musician is then taken refuge in Suisse because of Russian revolution, and Diaghilev, itself exiled, can hardly help it. It is then presented to Ramuz by the Swiss leader Ernest Ansermet.

The argument of the part is of inspiration faustienne but takes again an old Russian tale compiled by Alexandre Afanasiev: a poor soldier sells his heart (represented by the Violon) with the Devil against a book which makes it possible to predict the future. After having shown with the Devil how to make use of the violin, it returns in its village. Alas, instead of the few promised days, the stay passed with the Devil lasted three long years. Nobody at the village recognizes the soldier: neither his/her mother, nor her promised in marriage. The soldier uses his magic book then to become fabulously rich. Incompetent to be happy with his fortune, the soldier plays charts against the Devil: its money against the violin. Of course, the Devil gains, but enivré by its profits it is let steal the violin. The soldier can then cure and to allure the sick princess promised by his father the King has who would cure it. Unfortunately seeking always more happiness, the soldier and the princess leave the kingdom then and disobey the Devil. The soldier is carried in hell. Work ends however in the triumph of the demon in a sarcastic walk.

Work comprises several short tables of which some are inspired various dances: Tango and even Ragtime. A continuation for Piano, clarinet and violin was extracted from it in 1919. One second continuation, respecting the initial orchestration, was written in 1920.

Creation took place on September 28th 1918, with the municipal theater of Lausanne, under the direction of Ansermet. The reduced instrumentation was to allow its interpretation during a round in various Swiss villages. This project has being cancelled at the last time because of propagation of the Spanish Grippe and the following representation could take place only in 1924.

The execution of the totality of work lasts approximately an hour, that of its continuation around thirty minutes.

• Walk of the soldier
• Music for scene 1
• Music for scene 2
• royal Walk
• Small concert
• Tango-waltz-ragtime
• Dance of the devil
• Choral society
• triumphal Walk of the devil