L'Histoire Du Soldat

Records On Which This Song Has Appeared

Zappa Albums & Side Projects

• Make A Jazz Noise Here
• Zappa '88: The Last U.S. Show

Notes About This Song

"L' Histoire Du Soldat" is a composition from 1918 by Igor Stravinsky about a soldier who makes a deal with The Devil. According to Nigey Lennon's book Being Frank - My Time With Frank Zappa, on page 101, it was Zappa's favorite piece by Stravinsky.

Zappa also mentioned it in "My Favorite Records", an FZ penned article in Hit Parader (1967). FZ played it during "Star Special", as a guest DJ on BBC Radio 1 in 1980 and during Musik Für Junge Leute.

In 1972 Zappa performed the narration for "L' Histoire Du Soldat" for a performance by Lukas Foss at the Hollywood Bowl.

"Royal March From "L'Histoire Du Soldat" was also one of the 10 records FZ selected (in 1989) for the American radio show Castaway's Choice, hosted by John McNally.

"Royal March From "L'Histoire Du Soldat" appears on Make A Jazz Noise Here

In Zappa's song Titties 'n Beer the protagonist also meets the Devil who wants to make a deal with him.

See Also

• Wikipedia article about Stravinsky's work