Composer

:

Igor Stravinsky

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Show/Musical

Compose Date

:

1918

First Performance

:

Sep 28, 1918

Average_duration

:

57:11

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

L'Histoire du Soldat, also known as The Soldier's Tale, is a musical work composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1918. The piece is scored for three actors, a dancer, and seven instruments, including violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, and percussion. The plot of L'Histoire du Soldat follows a soldier who, upon returning home from war, meets the devil. The devil offers the soldier a magic book that can predict the future, in exchange for the soldier's violin. The soldier agrees to the deal and sets off on a journey with the devil, encountering various characters along the way. Eventually, the soldier realizes the true cost of his deal with the devil and must find a way to outsmart him and regain his violin. The composition of L'Histoire du Soldat was a departure from Stravinsky's earlier works, as it incorporated elements of jazz and folk music. The piece premiered in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1918, and was later performed in Paris and London. The movements of L'Histoire du Soldat are as follows: 1. The Soldier's March - The soldier returns home from war and meets the devil. 2. The Soldier's Violin - The devil offers the soldier a magic book in exchange for his violin. 3. The Little Concert - The soldier plays his violin for a group of people, but realizes he can no longer play as well as he used to. 4. Tango - The soldier and the devil encounter a princess and her attendants, and the soldier dances a tango with the princess. 5. The Devil's Dance - The devil celebrates his victory over the soldier. 6. The Chorale - The soldier reflects on his past and contemplates his future. 7. The Devil's Triumphal March - The devil parades around with the soldier's violin, but the soldier outsmarts him and regains his violin. Overall, L'Histoire du Soldat is a unique and innovative work that showcases Stravinsky's versatility as a composer. Its combination of spoken word, music, and dance creates a dynamic and engaging performance that has stood the test of time.

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