Igor Stravinsky: TheSoldier’s Tale
The Soldier’s Tale is a theatrical workcreated by Igor Stravinsky in 1918, blending music, narration, and dance. Thestory follows a soldier who makes a pact with the devil in pursuit of wealth,only to lose his freedom and happiness. More than a work of art, it serves as amoral fable, exploring themes of greed, temptation, and the consequences ofhuman choices. Stravinsky was born in the Russian Empire, lived in France formany years, and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Due to wartime resource constraints,Stravinsky intentionally reduced the orchestration to a seven-member ensemble,making the piece easier to tour in small venues. The work’s purpose goes beyondentertainment; it seeks to convey moral lessons through the integration ofmusic and theater, prompting reflection on ethics and human values.
Musically, The Soldier’s Tale fuses classical, jazz, tango, and marchelements, featuring distinct rhythms and innovative structures. Thisexperimentation influenced modern 20th-century music. Thanks to its unique formand profound content, it remains a classic example of the fusion of music anddrama.
The French title of the work, L’Histoire du soldat, means “TheSoldier’s Tale.” Created near the end of World War I, Europe was socially andeconomically disrupted; many artists struggled to perform and earn a living.Stravinsky and his collaborator, writer C. F. Ramuz, aimed to create a workthat could be performed in small spaces, at low cost, while resonating deeplywith audiences. Hence, the “portable theater” format using seven musicians anda minimal cast.
Beyond practical reasons, the storycarries a moral purpose. Based on a Russian folk tale, it tells of a soldierwho exchanges his beloved violin for a magical book that predicts the futureand brings wealth. Though initially prosperous, he finds he cannot enjoy realhappiness. He tries to return home, but his family no longer recognizes him.Later, he attempts to reclaim his violin and win the love of a princess. Yet,when he tries to start a new life, the devil returns and strips him ofeverything. The tragic ending symbolizes humanity’s inability to escape fate,especially when consumed by greed and desire.
The work also reflects Stravinsky’sartistic experimentation. He sought to move beyond traditional large-scalesymphonies or operas, exploring flexible, theatrical expressions. The Soldier’s Tale represents a keystage in his evolving musical style.
Although the story is straightforward,its moral depth is profound. The soldier encounters an elderly-looking devil onhis journey home, who tempts him with a book promising wealth and foresight inexchange for his violin. Initially rich, the soldier soon realizes that truejoy eludes him. Despite efforts to escape the devil’s control, reclaim hisviolin, and win a princess’s love, he ultimately loses everything.
Stravinsky’s creativity shines in hisseven-instrument ensemble: violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet,trombone, and percussion. Each instrument plays multiple roles—sometimesrepresenting characters, other times emphasizing mood—enhancing the audience’semotional engagement.
The music boldly integrates diversestyles, including tango, march, waltz, and early jazz. These styles reflectcontemporary musical trends and enrich the narrative. For instance, lively,jumping rhythms accompany the soldier’s wealth, while slower, tense passagesreflect his suffering. Irregular meters and abrupt changes add a modern,unpredictable quality.
The work uniquely combines music,narration, and movement. The story is narrated, accompanied by actors’ gesturesand dance, all synchronized with live music. Each artistic element serves thestory, a “multi-arts” approach that was highly innovative at the time andinspired later theatrical works.
TheSoldier’s Tale is regarded as one of the mostinnovative works of the early 20th century. It showcases Stravinsky’s artisticdaring and demonstrates how music and theater can express complex human themes.Audiences and critics were surprised by its boundary-breaking approach, whichfused music, drama, literature, and dance. This “cross-disciplinary” stylebecame increasingly common, with TheSoldier’s Tale as an early exemplar.
Beyond artistic innovation, the workcarries profound moral and social significance. It reflects the spiritualstruggles people faced during wartime—poverty, mortality, and ethical dilemmas.The soldier’s choices mirror real-life compromises made for survival orsuccess, and the tragic conclusion reminds us that not every decision isreversible: losing one’s values can lead to permanent loss of happiness.Ultimately, the work underscores that only peace can bring lasting joy,contributing to anti-war reflection.
For me, the greatest impact of this workis the realization that music can do more than express emotions—it can tellstories and communicate values. TheSoldier’s Tale is not just pleasant or novel; it challenges audiences tothink deeply about life. Through this work, I have come to better understandthe social significance of art: it is not only entertainment, but also a meansof reflection and inspiration.
